title: INTERROGAZIONE SCRITTA n. 1663/99 dell'on. Lucio MANISCO Diritti dei cittadini e compagnie aeree

eurovoc_concepts:
accession to an agreement
air transport
common transport policy
reservation

formats: pdf print

text: C 27 E/144 Gazzetta ufficiale delle Comunit(cid:224) europee IT 29. 1. 2000 Non ci si possono attendere risultati immediati, ma grazie agli sforzi pazienti e perseveranti dispiegati dall(cid:146)UE, nonchØ attraverso il dialogo e altri strumenti, viene riconosciuta sempre piø ampiamente anche in Cina la bont(cid:224) dei valori universali a cui aderiamo. Per questa ragione l(cid:146)UE ha insistito nel voler mantenere un dialogo globale e sostanziale senza escludere a priori alcun tema. L(cid:146)UE ha inoltre messo in chiaro che desidera che il dialogo sui diritti dell(cid:146)uomo non sfoci semplicemente su un mero riconoscimento da parte della Cina degli impegni assunti a livello internazionale, ma produca all(cid:146)interno di questo paese migliora- menti concreti della situazione dei diritti dell(cid:146)uomo. (2000/C 27 E/175) INTERROGAZIONE SCRITTA P-1602/99 di Benedetto Della Vedova (NI) alla Commissione (7 settembre 1999) Oggetto: Compagnie aeree e regolamentazione in materia di overbooking le compagnie aeree, In maniera sempre piø frequente, in particolare durante i periodi estivi, e con sempre maggiori svantaggi per l(cid:146)utente/consumatore/viaggiatore, ivi comprese compagnie dell(cid:146)Unione europea, praticano l(cid:146)overbooking (la vendita di posti-viaggio superiore ai posti effettivamente disponibili sul volo) in base alla quale il personale della compagnia decide, secondo criteri del tutto oscuri, dell(cid:146)imbarco dei viaggiatori malgrado questi possiedano un regolare titolo di viaggio, obbligando il consumatore-viaggiatore a soste impreviste e spesso assai lunghe, a spese aggiuntive non previste e, spesso, non rimborsate dalle compagnie, nonchØ a problemi derivanti dal mancato ritorno al momento prescelto. Tale frangente rappresenta un problema notevolmente maggiore se si verifica su voli che collegano le citt(cid:224) dell(cid:146)Unione europea a destinazioni transcontinentali e viceversa. I vari provvedimenti derivanti dalle attuali norme della Commissione (CEE 295/91 (1) del 4 febbraio 1991) appaiono del tutto inadeguati rispetto alla gravit(cid:224) dei disguidi subiti in questi frangenti. In particolare non si applicano per i voli in partenza da un paese terzo verso una destinazione comunitaria, non escludono l(cid:146)obbligo dell(cid:146)ulteriore conferma della partenza, non definiscono come tassativo il «time limit» entro il quale i passeggeri devono presentarsi per il «check in», non precisano le percentuali di overbooking consentite alle compagnie cos(cid:236) come le penali previste non sembrano aver portato le compagnie ad assicurare le dovute compensazioni ai passeggeri vittime di disguidi. Per sapere dalla Commissione se Ł al corrente di questa situazione? Se la Commissione non ritiene che sia la natura giuridica stessa dei provvedimenti finora adottati a renderli inadeguati? Se la Commissione intende prendere misure ulteriori e di altra natura perchØ i diritti dei viaggiatori/consumatori vengano rispettati? (1) GU L 36 dell(cid:146)8. 2. 1991, pag. 5. (2000/C 27 E/176) INTERROGAZIONE SCRITTA E-1663/99 di Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) alla Commissione (22 settembre 1999) Oggetto: Diritti dei cittadini e compagnie aeree Nel mese di agosto moltissimi cittadini europei hanno subito in ogni aeroporto dell(cid:146)Unione europea angherie e soprusi da parte delle compagnie aeree in merito ai ritardi degli aeromobili, alle condizioni stesse di trasporto e di attesa negli aeroporti e al ritardo della riconsegna del bagaglio. Il passeggero da persona giuridica che stabilisce un contratto con una compagnia aerea Ł diventato oggetto passivo e vittima senza appello di tali pratiche arbitrarie. Non ritiene la Commissione di dover urgentemente modificare il regolamento 295/91 (1) onde inserire il ritardo aereo nell(cid:146)ambito di penalit(cid:224) pecuniarie a carico della compagnia aerea a favore del passeggero? (1) GU L 36 dell(cid:146)8. 2. 1991, pag. 5


title: Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on 'The role and contribution of civil society organisations in the building of Europe'

eurovoc_concepts:
European Movement
European Political Union
European citizenship
civil rights

formats: html pdf print

text: C 329/30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 11. 1999 Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on ‘The role and contribution of civil society organisations in the building of Europe’ (1999/C 329/10) At its plenary session on 28 January 1999 the Economic and Social Committee decided, under Rule 23(3) of its Rules of Procedure, to draw up an opinion on ‘The role and contribution of civil society organisations in the building of Europe’. In accordance with Rules 11(4) and 19(1) of its Rules of Procedure the Committee set up a subcommittee to prepare its work on this subject. The subcommittee adopted its draft opinion on 30 August 1999. The rapporteur was Mrs Sigmund. At its 366th plenary session (meeting of 22 September 1999) the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 116 votes to 2, with 13 abstentions. 1. Introduction 1. 1. On the initiative of its president, Mrs Rangoni Machia- velli, the ESC will hold a conference in October this year to discuss the role and contribution of civil society organisations in the building of Europe. Specific proposals are to be drawn up by three working groups. The topic chosen is a logical follow-up to the approach developed by the Committee in its 1992 opinion on a Citizens’ Europe (1). The conference is not therefore intended to be a ‘one-off’ event, but a prelude to the Committee’s programme for the next few years. 1. 2. The present ESC opinion has been prepared by a subcommittee so that the event can be facilitated through appropriate preparatory work. The subcommittee members did not see it as their role to propose ready-made solutions; rather they have tried to organise the subject matter, identify the key players and define the institutional framework for concrete proposals. The final part of the report contains specific proposals that could serve as a basis for discussion in the conference’s working groups. 2. General comments People at the end of the 20th century are experiencing 2. 1. far-reaching changes which affect not just the substance but also the structure of their lives. The end of 19th century saw the creation in Europe of 2. 2. social laws which would lead in the 20th century to the welfare state. Their importance for peace, political freedom, economic performance and social cohesion is unquestionable. But there is also a need to respond to new challenges, such as globalisation, though many questions as to the form and content of these changes remain unanswered. (1) OJ C 313, 30. 11. 92, p. 34. A reform debate is of course also taking place at 2. 3. European Community level. The evolution of objectives between the time of the founding treaties and the Amsterdam Treaty necessitates structural reforms that should be set in train without delay. 2. 3. 1. It should not be forgotten that the driving force behind European integration was not the economic dimension alone, but the desire to safeguard peace, which is indeed the first thing mentioned in the preamble to the ECSC Treaty (safeguarding world peace; contribution which an organised and vital Europe can make to civilisation; helping to raise the standard of living). Accordingly, the remit of the European Union has 2. 3. 2. since expanded to embrace not the original, purely economic, spheres but also the environment, health and consumer protection, as well as education, social policy and employment. just 2. 3. 3. All this illustrates that European integration should be seen not as a single event, but as a process that is not only subject to change but also capable of responding to change. This is how we should interpret the preamble to the Maastricht Treaty, in which the European Union is not defined for all time, but the process is deliberately left open by referring to ‘an ever closer Union’. 2. 4. The European Union must currently address such sensitive and sometimes very emotionally charged issues as enlargement, common foreign and security policy and a whole host of institutional matters. At the same time it faces low confidence among its citizens, who accuse it of inefficiency, point to democratic deficits and call for greater responsiveness to grassroots opinion. European integration needs the commit- ment and support of ordinary people more urgently than ever before, and at present it does not seem to have enough of either. 2. 5. It is precisely in connection with this issue of (inad- equate) responsiveness to grassroots opinion that the notion of ‘civil society’ is constantly being mentioned. This concept is cited and invoked in the most diverse contexts, and its 17. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 329/31 relevance is not always obvious. It is almost as if ‘civil society’ has become a vogue expression that is often used without any clear indication of what the speaker really means. Experience has shown that a discussion is only fruitful if agreement is first reached on the basic premises. The subcommittee therefore felt it was essential first to describe the historical background and development of civil society, and then, using scientific theories, to provide a definition of the concept (1) that actually reflects political reality. political sphere: liberalism saw civil society as the stronghold of individual freedom and contractual relations, socialism saw it as the expression of oppression and the class divide. 3. 6. Since the 19th century, however, a number of political and social thinkers have been trying to transcend this clash between an ‘ancient-medieval’ and a ‘modern-bourgeois’ ver- sion of civil society, and, within the latter, between the liberal and socialist versions. 3. Historical overview The concept of civil society in Western political 3. 1. thought has undergone differing interpretations throughout its history. It is important to transcend these now by providing an all-embracing definition. 3. 2. Until the Enlightenment, civil society denoted a par- ticular form of political organisation, namely one that was subject to the rule of law. For Aristotle, the koinonia politiké was a dimension of society that encompassed and prevailed over all other dimensions. Cicero talked about a societas civilis. This political definition of civil society still applied in the Middle Ages, although it took on the new connotation of the antithesis to religious community. The term was thus secularised. It is interesting to note that according to this interpretation, ‘civil society’ and ‘state’ are virtually synony- mous. Thus good citizenship is the moral value associated with civil society, which in the Roman tradition means members of civil society fulfilling their duties as citizens. 3. 3. From about 1750 onwards the expression came to mean almost the opposite. Civil society was no longer bound up with the notion of the state, but increasingly represented a counterweight to the state. This was because the emerging bourgeoisie with its liberal world view appropriated the concept to denote a social sphere separate from the political sphere, comprising the market and people’s private lives. The associated moral and social ethic was no longer ‘good citizenship’ but ‘good breeding’, i. e. good manners and impec- cable social conduct. 3. 4. It was this liberal approach that Ferguson had in mind when he sang the praises of civil society. It was precisely this apolitical interpretation that disturbed 19th century philosophers such as Hegel and Marx, who attacked it for being biased and one-sided. They identified civil society largely with the bourgeois individualistic world view and the formalised regulation of relationships through civil law. 3. 5. Liberalism and socialism crossed swords over the concept of civil society, now defined as the antithesis of the (1) See points 6. 1 and 7. 1. A new interpretation of modern civil society, inspired 3. 7. by Tocqueville, Durkheim and Weber, is emerging, based on four principles: — Civil society is typified by more or less formalised insti- tutions: this institutional network forms an autonomous social sphere that is distinct from both the state and from family and domestic life in the strict sense. These institutions have many functions (not just economic, but also religious, cultural, social, etc. ) and are crucial to social integration; — Individuals are free to choose whether to belong to civil society institutions: they are never forced to join any of the associations, businesses or groups which make up civil society, either through a political commitment or suppos- edly ‘natural’ allegiance to a particular group; — The framework of civil society is the rule of law: the democratic principles of respect for private life, freedom of expression and freedom of association provide the normative framework of civil society. Although civil society is independent of the state, it is certainly not an area outside the law; — Civil society is the place where collective goals are set and citizens are represented: civil society organisations play an important role as ‘intermediaries’ between the individual and the state. The democratic process could not take place without their mediatory role. — Civil society introduces the dimension of subsidiarity, a concept derived from Christian doctrine, which opens up the possibility of establishing levels of authority which are independent of the state but recognised by it. 4. Civil society: the common denominator for demo- cratic movements in Europe 4. 1. Social changes in Europe have helped to provoke a broad international debate over the past few years, in theory and in practice, about the term ‘civil society’. Remarkably, citizens’ groups and movements from western and eastern Europe are addressing the matter together, despite their very different histories. This has become a much-debated subject in that offers a middle way the search for a social model between unbridled individualism and the trend towards total authoritarian collectivism. C 329/32 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 11. 1999 4. 2. Whereas in western Europe and the United States the main question was how ordinary people could rebuild a sense of solidarity and so strengthen the social ties which a community needs, the initial concern in central and eastern Europe was to dismantle the central government control inherited from the Communist system. 4. 3. The difficulties currently besetting both western and eastern European countries are not purely economic, social and financial. They are mostly related to internal changes in the way civil society is organised, and to the limits of state action in a complex society. 4. 4. The countries of central and eastern Europe had not succeeded, and in certain cases have still not completely succeeded, either in building confidence in the new institutions or in creating the necessary structures for the existence of a strong civil society. This situation is particularly relevant for the European Union in the context of enlargement. The ESC, too, has launched a large number of initiatives to support this reconstruction process in the CEEC, and these activities have a high priority in its current work programme. 5. An attempt to define civil society There is no hard and fast definition of civil society. 5. 1. Because the term is so closely associated with specific historical developments in individual societies and so normative, it can be defined only loosely, as a society that embraces democracy. Civil society is a collective term for all types of social action, by individuals or groups, that do not emanate from the state and are not run by it. What is particular to the concept of civil society is its dynamic nature, the fact that it denotes both situation and action. The participatory model of civil society also provides an opportunity to strengthen confidence in the democratic system so that a more favourable climate for reform and innovation can develop. 5. 2. Some components in the concept of civil society 5. 2. 1. The development of civil society is a cultural process, and ‘culture’ (1) therefore determines the definition of civil society and has a bearing on all the concepts listed below. If we take the very broad definition of culture as a code of values that apply to the members of a society, then culture also shapes the areas in which civil society operates. — Pluralism: In a pluralist society every member of the community determines his or her contribution, and the community tries to improve the conditions of co-existence. This applies not only to the substance but also to the form of action taken; thus civil society also links diverse social groups through the way in which ideas are exchanged and social contacts established, thus lending some stability to their communication efforts. What is remarkable is that this public discourse is not purely factual, but that the parties involved also exchange value judgements. However, this co-ordination of different views and perspectives does not happen automatically, but requires a constant will to achieve consensus. In a pluralist society, all individuals recognise each other as having equal rights and engage with each other in a public debate. All this takes place on the basis of tolerance and free will. An example is the democratic culture of the multiparty political system. — Autonomy: Ordinary people determine the pattern of their social actions themselves. These must take place, however, within a state that has been fashioned by its citizens, a state that provides the framework for society to function through basic rights anchored in a constitution. But autonomy also requires independent institutions that pro- tect non-material values — such as education, religion and culture — that guarantee human dignity, a basic right of which the state is not the sole guarantor. — Solidarity: Civil society is underpinned by a ‘culture of solidarity’, which manifests itself in a willingness to place limits on one’s own interests and take on obligations as the prerequisite for acting in the common interest. People’s actions are determined by their own lives (culture, upbring- ing, education, experience) and they benefit from their interaction with others. — Public awareness: Civil society establishes a climate of communication and so creates a social context of ‘political awareness’. This political awareness is characterised by very grassroots-oriented patterns of communication. The information society has become very relevant to such awareness. Even if, as a kind of ‘non-organised civil society’, the information society is still to a certain extent an elite community, it is likely to provoke radical changes, not only in the shape of civil society but also in the way it operates. — Participation: in a flourishing democracy there are two ways in which citizens can be politically represented or active: 1) through a range of political institutions at different levels: citizens participate mainly by taking part in election debates and subsequent ballots; (1) In broad terms culture can be said to define the past and presently prevailing system of values and needs (material or not material); culture determines the hierarchy of values and needs as well as the ‘means’ by which values are served and needs are satisfied or met. 2) through the action of interest groups and citizens’ initiatives: people belong to groups that build up expert issues in and grassroots knowledge of the social 17. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 329/33 question. These bodies also participate in public infor- mation and communication processes, so helping to create a general perception of the common good. The term ‘civil society’ implies this type of participation. — Education is a fundamental element of civil society. The basic values of human society are communicated through education. Those involved in education establish the principles according to which civil society develops. On no account therefore should education policy be the sole preserve of the state. are rights exercised: — Responsibility: civil society is not just the place where individual are accompanied by obligations in the common interest. In fulfilling these obligations, members of civil society must be accountable to the other members. This is why civil society is the ideal context for practising a particular type of ‘good citizenship’, because it is a community of interests. rights these — Subsidiarity: The grassroots level plays a primary role in this political and social system; higher authorities only come into play when lower levels cannot cope. In the context of civil society, subsidiarity must also be under- stood as an external factor, i. e. as a recommendation that citizens themselves should be left to deal with matters that concern them. 5. 3. Civil society in the current debate 5. 3. 1. approaches: The theoretical discussion is broadly based on three — The liberal tradition sees the citizen as an economic, rational element of society defined primarily in terms of his or her rights and duties. Citizens organise themselves in interest groups and ensure that the state guarantees universally valid, freedoms. Civil society is realised through the broadest possible application of individual rights. The focus is on applying liberal principles. individual — According to the theory of communitarianism, citizens are members of a community established on the basis of values they themselves have defined. People must adapt their behaviour to the objectives of the community, which for its part must act as a system of links between individual and state. — The third theoretical approach is discursive democracy, which lies somewhere between the liberal and communita- rianist positions; this theory is based on the concepts of communication and interaction: civil society creates a ‘political awareness’ in which democratic debate not only generates opinions, but also establishes standards, so that the information process also becomes a decision-making process through which civil society agrees on common values. These values — for example in the sphere of justice or protection of minorities — must then be implemented by the democratic institutions (the state). 6. State, market and civil society 6. 1. There is no doubt that the social state based on the rule of law has enhanced the development of political freedom, economic strength and social cohesion. The typical dual model of former political and economic theories, which revolved around the two poles of ‘state’ and ‘market’, more or less ignored all relationships outside that context, relationships that most closely reflect human and social reality. The concept of civil society is thus very important as 6. 2. the third component of the state system. Whereas the ‘statist society’ model sees the citizen first and foremost as a citizen of the state (in relationships determined by the state), the ‘market society’ model sees the citizen as a market player. The citizen as a member of civil society (homo civicus) mediates between the two, by embodying all three aspects (homo politicus, homo economicus and homo civicus). 7. Civil society organisations 7. 1. Civil society organisations can be defined in abstract terms as the sum of all organisational structures whose members have objectives and responsibilities that are of general interest and who also act as mediators between the public authorities and citizens. Their effectiveness is crucially dependent on the extent to which their players are prepared to help achieve consensus through public and democratic debate and to accept the outcome of a democratic policy-making process. 7. 2. Civil society organisations can also be viewed dynami- cally as a locus of collective learning. In complex societies, which cannot be run on a centralised basis, problems can only be resolved with active grassroots participation. Various forms of social experimentation and forums for pluralist discussion are a prerequisite for an ‘intelligent’ democracy that can generate an ongoing process of social learning. In this sense, civil society is a ‘school for democracy’. 7. 3. This also applies by analogy to the Community sphere, where the role of the nation state is also relativised by the process of European integration and people increasingly sense that the nation state’s traditional claims to sovereignty no longer reflect social reality. Employment and environmental problems and issues of welfare and social justice can no longer be dealt with exclusively at national level. 8. Players in civil society organisations 8. 1. Civil society organisations include: — the so-called labour-market players, i. e. the social partners; C 329/34 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 11. 1999 — organisations representing social and economic players, which are not social partners in the strict sense of the term; — NGOs (non-governmental organisations) which bring people together in a common cause, such as environmental organisations, human rights organisations, consumer associations, charitable organisations, educational and training organisations, etc. ; — CBOs (community-based organisations, i. e. organisations set up within society at grassroots level which pursue member-oriented objectives), e. g. youth organisations, family associations and all organisations through which citizens participate in local and municipal life; — religious communities. 9. The role of civil society organisations at Community level — the civil dialogue the role of voluntary organisations and foundations in Europe’ (1), the Commission took up this suggestion and set as a political objective ‘the building over time of a strong civil dialogue at European level to take its place alongside the policy dialogue with the national authorities and the social dialogue with the social partners’. In its opinion on this Communi- cation (2), the Committee discussed the question further, ‘By organising themselves, citizens provide observing that: themselves with a more effective means of impressing their views on different society-related issues on political decision- makers. Strengthening non-parliamentary democratic struc- tures is a way of giving substance and meaning to the concept of a Citizens’ Europe. ’ 9. 4. Civil dialogue is set to become the communication forum for Community-level civil society organisations. How- ever, it would be wrong to see it as providing an alternative to, or as competing with, the social dialogue. Rather, civil dialogue should be considered a necessary complement to the social dialogue, in which the social partners — depending on the areas to be dealt with — will participate just as all the other relevant players in civil society. It is in Europe’s interest to improve and develop all structures which allow its citizens to participate in the common project of European integration. 9. 1. In the context of European integration, civil society organisations have also been set up at Community level, though their make-up and representativeness vary. These organisations range from ad-hoc lobby groups to highly organised associations, all claiming representation and co- decision rights for their particular area of interest. However, only those with a certain basic organisational machinery and which are qualitatively and quantitatively representative of their particular sector can be expected to make a positive contribution to European integration. 9. 5. A political awareness must be developed in Europe that provides transparency and requires cooperation. In modern societies it is the mass media above all that create such political awareness, but the media tend not to be very interested in European issues. Reports are generally limited to topical matters and allusions to incompetence which are intended to boost sales. So it is hardly surprising that people’s distrust of ‘Brussels’, which they equate with aloof bureaucracy and opaque decision-making structures, has grown. ‘Out of touch with ordinary people’ and ‘democratic deficit’ have become catchwords associated with Europe. 9. 2. One common feature of these civil society organis- ations at European level is the intermediary role they which they have taken over from the national level. The European social partners are a case in point, having employed their communication strategies in a Community-level institutional- ised negotiation process. This social dialogue is essentially a decision-making process based on consensus; since the coming into force of the Amsterdam Treaty, the parties in this process act on a quasi-constitutional basis. The importance of social dialogue in core areas of social policy, especially labour relations, is undisputed. Of particular interest, however, is the fact for applying a form of communication intrinsic to civil society, in which dialogue is a constantly developing, goal-oriented process. The social partners have thus set standards for a new type of political culture which should embrace areas outside the social dialogue. it serves as a model that 9. 3. There have already been numerous efforts to set up structures for democratic discourse alongside the social dialogue at European level. In the Commission, Directorate- General V plays a key role in promoting civil dialogue at a level. It initiated the first European Social Policy practical Forum, held in March 1996, where the concept of ‘civil dialogue’ was introduced. In its Communication ‘Promoting 9. 6. Civil society organisations at European level therefore have the important task of contributing to a public and democratic discourse. Through its remit as a forum for civil the Committee can ensure contact society organisations, with grassroots concerns and contribute to the democratic policy-making process. Its members speak directly for civil society organisations, and together they represent that network of interactions, the ‘real world’, that forms the necessary basis for action in a civil society. In this connection the Committee regrets that both the 9. 7. communication ‘Promoting the role of voluntary organisations and foundations in Europe’ and the report on the Second European Social Policy Forum 1998 mention only the Com- mission and the European Parliament as forums for civil dialogue, omitting any reference to the Committee. (1) COM(97) 241 final. (2) OJ C 95, 30. 3. 1998, p. 99. 17. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 329/35 10. The Economic and Social Committee as the represen- tative of civil society organisations a forum not for European for national delegations but organisations with similar interests. Thus the Committee also sees itself as speaking on behalf of civil society organisations. 10. 1. By setting up the Economic and Social Committee, the Rome Treaties gave sectoral interest groups access to the European decision-making process and made the Committee the representative of civil society organisations at Community level. Hence, the Committee can trace its special role as the representative of civil society organisations back to both its institutional status and remit, as well as its membership. It should therefore set a clear course for the further development of civil dialogue at the conference in October. 10. 2. Committee members 10. 2. 1. Under Article 257 of the EC Treaty, the Committee comprises ‘representatives of the various categories of econ- omic and social activity, in particular, representatives of producers, farmers, carriers, workers, dealers, craftsmen, pro- fessional occupations and representatives of the general public’. This purely indicative list is deliberately left open, as best befits the evolving nature of civil society organisations. It is not clear whether current membership of the Committee really reflects social changes that have taken place over the past 40 years. 10. 2. 2. Committee members are generally nominated by national organisations, but they are not bound to follow those organisations’ instructions. In other words, they are independent. But members naturally reflect in their work the reasons for which they were nominated. In this way they represent the pluralist interests of civil society organisations. In addition, the Committee’s members must respect their duty to serve the common interest: ‘The members of the Committee may not be bound by any mandatory instructions. They shall be completely independent in the performance of their duties, in the general interest of the Community. ’ (third paragraph of the EC Treaty). This means that political Article 258 of decision-making in the Committee is not the automatic outcome of competition between interest groups, and its way of working more or less reflects the modus operandi of civil society organisations. The particular process for drafting opinions in the Committee (study group — section — plenary session) is also consistent with the principle of consensus, which is the basis for negotiated action in civil society. Thus any lack of diversity in the membership of the Committee is partly offset by the rules governing the exercise of their activities and the form of the decision-making process. The Committee’s legitimacy as the representative 10. 2. 3. body of civil society organisations derives not only from its status as an institution of the European Community, but also from the existence of its three Groups. The Committee incorporated this right to form groups from the Council’s nomination guidelines of 1958 into its Rules of Procedures, in the first place presumably to simplify its work. But the intention was also to make clear that the Committee was 10. 3. Role of the Committee as a Community institution 10. 3. 1. The Committee’s role as a consultative body is best summed up in terms of its relationship with other bodies, particularly the European Parliament: the Committee guaran- tees the implementation of the participatory model of civil society; it enables civil society to participate in the decision- making process; and it helps reduce a certain ‘democratic deficit’ and so underpins the legitimacy of democratic decision- making processes. 10. 3. 2. Democracy manifests itself through the will of the people, which is expressed through majority decision-making. For the minority to accept the will of the majority, there must be a degree of agreement between them: they must have a common identity. This is not usually a problem at national level, where (in a broad interpretation of the ‘demos’ concept) this identity is defined by a common nationality (or residence in a particular area), and a common culture, language and set of values. 10. 3. 3. However, when it comes to democratic policy- identity criteria are making at European level, additional required to create a European identity. If European Union citizenship is defined simply as the sum of all national citizenships, then a ‘European’ must be the sum (or synthesis) of several national identity criteria, which all derive from a common tradition and the values of democracy and human rights. This means, however, that the democratic process 10. 3. 4. at European level — even more so than at national level — must provide a range of participatory structures in which all citizens, with their different identities and in accordance with their different identity criteria, can be represented and which reflect the heterogeneous nature of the European identity. 10. 3. 5. The European Parliament is elected by Europe’s citizens in their capacity as national citizens (residing in a particular Member State), i. e. exercising their democratic rights as part of their national (territorial) identity. 10. 3. 6. But people’s identity is also defined by membership interest groups in the diverse shape of civil society of organisations. These identity criteria, relating to people’s role in civil society organisations, are not covered by representation in the EP. It is precisely these identity criteria, however, which are taken into account by the Committee as the representative of civil society organisations; this enables the Committee to promote democratisation at the European level, and to show Parliament it provides genuine added value in the democratic European decision-making process. The Com- mittee cannot compete with Parliament, in power terms alone, but it complements Parliament’s legitimacy in a way that makes sense. that C 329/36 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 11. 1999 11. Measures to support the role of the Committee 11. 1. Cooperation with the Commission: The Committee currently maintains close working contacts with the Com- mission which both sides feel to be satisfactory. Contact should nevertheless be established with individual Commissioners so as to ensure that the Commission requests an opinion from the Committee at an earlier stage in its decision-making process. Particularly in matters concerning its interest groups, the Committee should be consulted as early as possible so that it can decide to draft an own-initiative opinion if it wishes. 11. 2. Cooperation with the Council: Each Presidency gener- ally lays down certain programme priorities. The Committee should build on the already effective cooperation during the preparatory phases and organise accompanying measures during each Presidency (own-initiative opinions, hearings and local events, and joint initiatives with the presidency-in-office). 11. 3. Cooperation with the European Parliament: The Treaty of Amsterdam empowers the Parliament (or its com- mittees) to ask the Committee for opinions. The interinsti- tutional working group on ESC-EP relations has a key role to play here, with far-reaching political implications. If solid foundations can be laid for future cooperation, people’s current feeling of remoteness from the European institutions could perhaps be reduced, and citizens could be reminded, through their representative organisations, of their responsi- bility for Europe and motivated to become involved. Cooperation with the Committee of the Regions: local 11. 4. and regional representation of interests in the COR does not conflict with sectoral representation in the Economic and Social Committee; on the contrary, is complementary. Mutual benefits could be won here too. A first step in this direction was taken by the Bureau this July, when a liaison group with the COR was set up to monitor the follow-up to a Committee opinion on ‘Exploitation of children and sex tourism’ (1) and implement with the COR one of the proposals in this opinion, the setting-up of a European network of child-friendly cities. in many cases it The Committee should do more to encourage such practical forms of cooperation. also to be conducted with those civil society organisations that are not currently represented in the Committee. This would be a crucial contribution to developing the model of participatory democracy. 12. 2. organisations meet. The Committee is the institution in which civil society It is therefore proposed that an appropriate ‘civil society’ organisational structure be set up to introduce initiatives in the following spheres, under an action plan to be implemented in the near future: — events within the Committee, as well as hearings outside the Committee, which could give more people the oppor- tunity to participate. The possibilities this would provide for opinion-forming and goal-setting through dialogue could represent a valuable contribution to the development of civil dialogue; — interinstitutional contacts could also be consolidated and developed within this framework, with round tables of outside experts preparing joint opinions; — there is also considerable scope to make more use of contributions from experts, which are often of high quality. Working up these contributions — where they address civil society issues — into press or scientific reports would not only further the knowledge of Committee members but could also be of interest to the wider public. 12. 3. The ESC is the forum for development of a European identity: as already mentioned, European identity has many levels and comprises different criteria, first among which is the acceptance of a common code of values based on respect for human dignity and human rights. — The German Presidency of the Council launched an initiative to draft a Charter of Basic Rights. At the Cologne summit, the German Minister for Justice noted that establishing a common code of values is of such fundamen- the highest tal possible degree of democratic legitimisation is desirable. importance for Europe’s citizens that 12. Creating a ‘civil society’ action plan in the Committee The Committee is the right forum in which to 12. 1. further broaden civil dialogue, and it should therefore make appropriate arrangements as soon as possible for this dialogue (1) OJ C 284, 14. 9. 1998, p. 92. — As the representative of civil society organisations, the Committee can make a decisive contribution to this democratic legitimisation. It will prepare an own-initiative opinion on the subject, and will also give its views during the committee procedure for drawing up a list of basic rights, which will be determined in more detail under the Finnish Presidency. — Even in the preparatory stages the Committee can ensure that as many as possible of the relevant players from civil society organisations are involved, by organising its own consultation procedures and hearings. 17. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 329/37 12. 4. organisations in the context of EU enlargement: The Committee is the bridgehead of civil society — In the run-up to enlargement, the Committee’s involve- ment in helping to set up civil society structures in those countries that do not yet have them, or in which they are not yet complete, cannot be overstated. As well as legal, integrating new economic, social and political action, members into the Community requires comparable struc- tures, in order to actually implement the shared value system referred to above. — The Committee has already done a lot of work to facilitate the setting-up in the candidate countries of bodies similar to the Committee, or to the national economic and social councils: it is working in joint consultative committees with those authorities in the applicant countries that are responsible for setting up these bodies. It is organising exchange programmes and in certain cases is also provid- ing assistance with technical and administrative matters. With the help of the relevant sections and other adminis- trative departments concerned, more positive steps could been taken in this direction through the action plan proposed in point 12. 2. 13. Summary New types of political entity — and the European Union in the post-Amsterdam period is such an entity — call for new ideas. In times of change, the so-called paradigm shift that characterises our present era, there is a need for visionary ideas and joint efforts to implement them. For Europe in particular this period preceding a possible enlargement poses a major challenge: to establish a common European identity based on a common value system, in addition to achieving major socio-economic goals. The Committee has the opportunity to support this process of development and contribute to European integration as envisaged in the Maastricht and Amsterdam Treaties. Brussels, 22 September 1999. The President of the Economic and Social Committee Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI C 329/38 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 17. 11. 1999 APPENDIX to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (in accordance with Rule 47(3) of the Rules of Procedure) The following amendment was rejected but received more than 25 % of the votes cast: Point 12. 1 Insert the following after the 2nd sentence: ‘The various activities occasioned by this broader dialogue should also help to boost participation for non-ESC members from organisations currently represented in the Committee. ’ Reason In addition to the problem of organisations for which the ESC is currently unable to find room, we have trouble spreading the message of what the Committee actually does even within our own organisations. Moreover, some of the expertise within our organisations remains untapped in the ESC’s regular activity. It should be possible to harness this expertise in various internal or external arrangements, thus making the people involved more aware of our work. Result of the vote For: 27, against: 40, abstentions: 11


title: SKRIFTLIG FORESPØRGSEL E-1678/99 af Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) til Rådet. Antibiotika i foderstoffer.

eurovoc_concepts:
Sweden
animal disease
animal feedingstuffs
common agricultural policy
food safety
veterinary drug

text: 18. 7. 2000 DA De Europ(cid:230)iske F(cid:230)llesskabers Tidende C 203 E/21 Kommissionen indledte derfor i 1997 en procedure p(cid:229) grund af manglende opfyldelse af kravene imod Frankrig i medfłr af artikel 226 (tidl. artikel 169) i EF-traktaten og indbragte den 15. februar 1999 sagen for De Europ(cid:230)iske F(cid:230)llesskabers Domstol (sag nr. C-38/99). Det p(cid:229)hviler herefter Domstolen at udtale sig. (1) (2) EFT C 100 af 9. 4. 1994. EFT C 65 af 4. 3. 1996. (2000/C 203 E/027) SKRIFTLIG FORESP(cid:216)RGSEL E-1678/99 af Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) til R(cid:229)det (22. september 1999) Om: Antibiotika i foderstoffer I (cid:229)rtier er antibiotika blevet anvendt som v(cid:230)kstfremmende stoffer ved opfedning af dyr. Anvendelsen af disse stoffer medfłrer imidlertid risiko for, at sygdomme, der opst(cid:229)r, m(cid:229)ske ikke kan behandles med antibiotika, da bakterierne allerede er resistente. Desuden kan rester af disse antibiotika ved fort(cid:230)ring af (cid:230)g, m(cid:230)lk, kłd osv. blive optaget af det menneskelige legeme, hvilket udgłr en betydelig sundhedsm(cid:230)ssig risiko. Sverige forbłd allerede den 1. januar 1986 (cid:129) endnu inden tiltr(cid:230)delsen af EU (cid:129) anvendelsen af antibiotika som v(cid:230)kstfremmende stof ved opfedning af dyr. Under łstrigsk formandsskab blev der desuden forbudt 4 former for antibiotikatils(cid:230)tning i hele EU. Vil R(cid:229)det g(cid:229) ind for et forbud mod anvendelse af samtlige antibiotika som v(cid:230)kstfremmende stoffer i foderstoffer? I bekr(cid:230)ftende fald, hvilke foranstaltninger vil R(cid:229)det tr(cid:230)ffe for at gennemfłre et s(cid:229)dant forbud i alle medlemsstater? Svar (24. januar 2000) P(cid:229) samlingen den 17. december 1998 vedtog R(cid:229)det en forordning (1) om (cid:230)ndring af direktiv 70/524/E(cid:216)F om tils(cid:230)tningsstoffer til foderstoffer for s(cid:229) vidt ang(cid:229)r inddragelse af godkendelsen af visse antibiotika. De berłrte antibiotika er virginiamycin, spiramycin, tylosinphosphat og zinkbacitracin. I forbindelse med vedtagelsen af den n(cid:230)vnte forordning bekr(cid:230)ftede R(cid:229)det og Kommissionen, at alle afgłrelser p(cid:229) omr(cid:229)det fortsat błr tr(cid:230)ffes p(cid:229) grundlag af videnskabelige anbefalinger p(cid:229) f(cid:230)llesskabsniveau og under hensyntagen til forsigtighedsprincippet. P(cid:229) samlingen den 14. -15. juni 1999 noterede R(cid:229)det sig offentliggłrelsen af Den Videnskabelige KomitØs udtalelse om antimikrobiel resistens. I denne forbindelse og for s(cid:229) vidt ang(cid:229)r de andre typer antibiotiske midler, der er n(cid:230)vnt i denne udtalelse, meddelte Kommissionens repr(cid:230)sentant, at hans institutions tjenestegrene er i f(cid:230)rd med at forberede passende forslag. R(cid:229)det vil med stor interesse drłfte enhver foranstaltning i denne henseende, som Kommissionen finder det nłdvendigt at foresl(cid:229). Brugen af antibiotika er ligeledes behandlet i en r(cid:229)dsresolution om antibiotikaresistens, som blev vedtaget den 8. juni 1999: »En strategi mod den mikrobiologiske trussel«. I denne resolution opfordres Kommis- sionen til at prioritere overv(cid:229)gningen af antibiotikaresistens inden for humanmedicin og p(cid:229) zoonosekon- trolomr(cid:229)det. (1) R(cid:229)dets forordning (EF) nr. 2821/98 af 17. 12. 98, offentliggjort i EFT L 351 af 29. 12. 1998, s. 4


title: QUESTION ÉCRITE E-1654/99 posée par Jan Mulder (ELDR) à la Commission. Utilisation de produits agricoles à des fins non alimentaires.

eurovoc_concepts: alternative use of agricultural products

text: 1. 8. 2000 FR Journal officiel des CommunautØs europØennes C 219 E/15 (2000/C 219 E/019) QUESTION (cid:201)CRITE E-1654/99 posØe par Jan Mulder (ELDR) (cid:224) la Commission (22 septembre 1999) Objet: Utilisation de produits agricoles (cid:224) des fins non alimentaires La culture de graines olØagineuses en jachŁre fait l(cid:146)objet, dans l(cid:146)Union europØenne, d(cid:146)une aide (cid:224) l(cid:146)hectare de 68,83 euros la tonne. Cette aide n(cid:146)est toutefois accordØe que pour les graines olØagineuses ØnumØrØes (cid:224) l(cid:146)annexe I du rŁglement (CE) no 1586/97 (1), les olØagineux qui n(cid:146)y figurent pas n(cid:146)entrant pas en ligne de compte pour l(cid:146)aide. Il en rØsulte que les cultures nouvelles (cid:224) des fins non alimentaires sont difficiles (cid:224) introduire. La Commission est-elle disposØe (cid:224) prendre des mesures pour que les graines olØagineuses soient toutes Øligibles aux mŒmes rØglementations sur les subventions, afin que, de cette maniŁre, le dØveloppement de produits agricoles (cid:224) des fins non alimentaires ait toutes ses chances? (1) JO L 215 du 7. 8. 1997, p. 3. RØponse donnØe par M. Fischler au nom de la Commission (26 octobre 1999) Il est exact que, aux fins du rŁglement (CE) no 1586/97 de la Commission du 29 juillet 1997 portant modalitØs d(cid:146)application relatives (cid:224) l(cid:146)utilisation des terres mises en jachŁre pour la production de matiŁres premiŁres servant (cid:224) la fabrication, dans la CommunautØ, de produits destinØs (cid:224) des fins principales autres que la consommation humaine ou animale, rŁglement dit non-food, le paiement compensatoire prØvu (cid:224) l(cid:146)article 2, paragraphe 5 du rŁglement (CEE) no 1765/92 du Conseil du 30 juin 1992, instituant un rØgime de soutien aux producteurs de certaines cultures arables (1), Øtait accordØ exclusivement aux matiŁres premiŁres ØnumØrØes (cid:224) l(cid:146)annexe I ou, le cas ØchØant, (cid:224) l(cid:146)annexe II dudit rŁglement. Toutefois, avec la refonte du rŁglement non-food, (cid:224) la suite de l(cid:146)adoption de l(cid:146)Agenda 2000, l(cid:146)abrogation (CE) consØcutive du rŁglement no 1251/1999 du 17 mai 1999 (2), le classement des diffØrentes matiŁres premiŁres dans les deux annexes a Øgalement ØtØ revu. l(cid:146)entrØe en vigueur du nouveau rŁglement (CEE) no 1765/92 et Ainsi, (cid:224) l(cid:146)annexe I du projet de rŁglement relatif (cid:224) l(cid:146)utilisation des terres mises en jachŁre pour la production de matiŁres premiŁres non alimentaires, le code nomenclature combinØe (NC) ex 12050090 concernant les graines de colza et de navette est dØsormais libellØ de sorte (cid:224) tenir compte du fait qu(cid:146)il convient, afin de dØterminer les variØtØs Øligibles, pour des raisons de cohØrence, de simplification et de bonne gestion, de faire renvoi au catalogue commun des variØtØs des espŁces agricoles, tel que prØcisØ dans le nouveau projet de rŁglement portant modalitØs d(cid:146)application du rŁglement (CE) no 1251/99. DŁs lors, en ce qui concerne certaines graines olØagineuses, le dØveloppement de nouvelles cultures (cid:224) des fins non alimentaires sera favorisØ par l(cid:146)octroi du paiement (cid:224) la surface. (1) (2) JO L 181 du 1. 7. 1992. JO L 160 du 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 219 E/020) QUESTION (cid:201)CRITE E-1693/99 posØe par Christoph Konrad (PPE-DE) au Conseil (30 septembre 1999) Objet: M. Bodo Hombach, coordinateur spØcial du pacte de stabilitØ dans les Balkans, et l(cid:146)affaire de la sociØtØ immobiliŁre VEBA AG 1. Le Conseil avait-il connaissance, avant de nommer M. Bodo Hombach, ancien ministre fØdØral, au poste de coordinateur spØcial du pacte de stabilitØ dans les Balkans, des informations diffusØes (cid:224) son sujet dans la presse allemande, selon lesquelles il serait probablement impliquØ dans l(cid:146)affaire relative (cid:224) la sociØtØ immobiliŁre VEBA?


title: Verordnung (EG) Nr. 2025/1999 der Kommission vom 22. September 1999 zur Änderung der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 1627/89 über den Ankauf von Rindfleisch durch Ausschreibung

eurovoc_concepts:
EU Member State
award of contract
beef
intervention buying
product quality

text: L 250/8 DE Amtsblatt der Europäischen Gemeinschaften 23. 9. 1999 VERORDNUNG (EG) Nr. 2025/1999 DER KOMMISSION vom 22. September 1999 zur Änderung der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 1627/89 über den Ankauf von Rindfleisch durch Ausschreibung DIE KOMMISSION DER EUROPÄISCHEN GEMEINSCHAFTEN — gestützt auf den Vertrag zur Gründung der Europäischen Gemeinschaft, gestützt auf die Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 805/68 des Rates vom 27. Juni 1968 über die gemeinsame Marktorganisation für Rindfleisch (1), zuletzt geändert durch die Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1633/98 (2), insbesondere auf Artikel 6 Absatz 7, in Erwägung nachstehender Gründe: (1) (2) Mit der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 1627/89 der Kommis- sion vom 9. Juni 1989 über den Ankauf von Rindfleisch durch Ausschreibung (3), zuletzt geändert durch die Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1909/1999 (4), wurde in einigen Mitgliedstaaten oder Gebieten eines Mitgliedstaats der Ankauf mehrerer Qualitätsgruppen durch Ausschreibung eröffnet. Die Anwendung von Artikel 6 Absätze 2, 3 und 4 der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 805/68 sowie die Notwendig- keit, die Intervention auf die Käufe zu beschränken, die für eine angemessene Marktstützung notwendig sind, hat unter Berücksichtigung der der Kommission vorlie- genden Notierungen die Änderung des Verzeichnisses der Mitgliedstaaten oder der Gebiete, in welchen der Ankauf durch Ausschreibung eröffnet ist, zur Folge, Sie erfordert außerdem die Änderung des Verzeichnisses der Qualitätsgruppen, die Gegenstand von Interventionsan- käufen sind, gemäß dem Anhang der vorliegenden Verordnung — HAT FOLGENDE VERORDNUNG ERLASSEN: Artikel 1 Der Anhang der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 1627/89 wird durch den Anhang der vorliegenden Verordnung ersetzt. Diese Verordnung tritt am 27. September 1999 in Kraft. Artikel 2 Diese Verordnung ist in allen ihren Teilen verbindlich und gilt unmittelbar in jedem Mitglied- staat. Brüssel, den 22. September 1999 Für die Kommission Franz FISCHLER Mitglied der Kommission (1) ABl. L 148 vom 28. 6. 1968, S. 24. (2) ABl. L 210 vom 28. 7. 1998, S. 17. (3) ABl. L 159 vom 10. 6. 1989, S. 36. (4) ABl. L 236 vom 7. 9. 1999, S. 4. 23. 9. 1999 DE Amtsblatt der Europäischen Gemeinschaften L 250/9 ANEXO — BILAG — ANHANG — ΠΑΡΑΡΤΗΜΑ — ANNEX — ANNEXE — ALLEGATO — BĲLAGE — ANEXO — LIITE — BILAGA Estados miembros o regiones de Estados miembros y grupos de calidades previstos en el apartado 1 del artículo 1 del Reglamento (CEE) no 1627/89 Medlemsstater eller regioner og kvalitetsgrupper, jf. artikel 1, stk. 1, i forordning (EØF) nr. 1627/89 Mitgliedstaaten oder Gebiete eines Mitgliedstaats sowie die in Artikel 1 Absatz 1 der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 1627/89 genannten Qualitätsgruppen Κράτη µέλη ή περιοχές κρατών µελών και οµάδες ποιότητος που αναφέρονται στο άρθρο 1 παράγραφος 1 του κανονισµού (ΕΟΚ) αριθ. 1627/89 Member States or regions of a Member State and quality groups referred to in Article 1 (1) of Regulation (EEC) No 1627/89 États membres ou régions d'États membres et groupes de qualités visés à l'article 1er paragraphe 1 du règlement (CEE) no 1627/89 Stati membri o regioni di Stati membri e gruppi di qualità di cui all'articolo 1, paragrafo 1 del regolamento (CEE) n. 1627/89 In artikel 1, lid 1, van Verordening (EEG) nr. 1627/89 bedoelde lidstaten of gebieden van een lidstaat en kwaliteitsgroepen Estados-Membros ou regiões de Estados-Membros e grupos de qualidades referidos no n. o 1 do artigo 1. o do Regulamento (CEE) n. o 1627/89 Jäsenvaltiot tai alueet ja asetuksen (ETY) N:o 1627/89 1 artiklan 1 kohdan tarkoittamat laaturyhmät Medlemsstater eller regioner och kvalitetsgrupper som avses i artikel 1. 1 i förordning (EEG) nr 1627/89 Estados miembros o regiones de Estados miembros Medlemsstat eller region Mitgliedstaaten oder Gebiete eines Mitgliedstaats Κράτος µέλος ή περιοχές κράτους µέλους Member States or regions of a Member State États membres ou régions d'États membres Stati membri o regioni di Stati membri Lidstaat of gebied van een lidstaat Estados-Membros ou regiões de Estados-Membros Jäsenvaltiot tai alueet Medlemsstater eller regioner België-Belgique Danmark France Great Britain Ireland Northern Ireland Österreich Categoría A Kategori A Kategorie A Κατηγορία Α Category A Catégorie A Categoria A Categorie A Categoria A Luokka A Kategori A R × × × U × × Categoría C Kategori C Kategorie C Κατηγορία Γ Category C Catégorie C Categoria C Categorie C Categoria C Luokka C Kategori C R × × × O × × × O U × ×


title: Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalgs udtalelse om «Kommissionens forslag til Europa-Parlamentets og Rådets direktiv om ændring af direktiv 94/55/EF om indbyrdes tilnærmelse af medlemsstaternes lovgivning om transport af farligt gods ad vej»

eurovoc_concepts:
approximation of laws
intra-EU transport
road transport
transport of dangerous goods
transport safety

text: C 329/10 DA De Europæiske Fællesskabers Tidende 17. 11. 1999 Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalgs udtalelse om »Kommissionens forslag til Europa- Parlamentets og Rådets direktiv om ændring af direktiv 94/55/EF om indbyrdes tilnærmelse af medlemsstaternes lovgivning om transport af farligt gods ad vej« (1) (1999/C 329/03) Rådet for Den Europæiske Union besluttede den 7. juni 1999 under henvisning til EF-traktatens artikel 71, stk. 1, litra c), at anmode om Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalgs udtalelse om det ovennævnte emne. Det forberedende arbejde henvistes til ØSU’s Sektion for Transport, Energi, Infrastruktur og Informations- samfundet, som udpegede Helmut Giesecke til ordfører. Sektionen vedtog sin udtalelse den 20. juli 1999. Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalg vedtog på sin 366. plenarforsamling af 22. -23. september 1999, mødet den 22. september 1999, følgende udtalelse med 89 stemmer for og 2 imod. 1. Indledning 1. 1. I alle EU-lande er borgerne meget opmærksomme på spørgsmålet om transport af farligt gods og de foranstaltninger, der træffes på området. De nationale forslag og forslagene fra organisationerne 1. 9. på EU-plan skal afstemmes indbyrdes, og interesserne er langt fra sammenfaldende. Alligevel finder ØSU det uforståeligt, at der endnu ikke foreligger nogen CEN-norm, selv om den er påkrævet af hensyn til sikkerheden og miljøet. Det 1. 2. foreliggende direktivforslag skal bidrage til at garantere sikkerheds- og kvalitetsnormerne i forbindelse med transport af farligt gods ad vej. 2. Kommissionens direktivforslag Det vedrører direktiv 94/55/EF, som man endnu ikke 1. 3. har kunnet gennemføre fuldt ud. 1. 4. Det grundlæggende problem er, at EU-normer for tanke og beholdere til transport af farligt gods i klasse 2 (gasser) ikke blev færdiggjort af Den Europæiske Standardise- ringsorganisation (CEN) inden for fristen i CEN’s mandat og direktiv 94/55/EF. På grund af de problemer, der er omtalt i indledningen, 2. 1. vil Kommissionen forlænge fristerne i direktiv 94/55/EF. 2. 2. I nogle tilfælde foreslår Kommissionen selv nye frister, i andre, mere komplicerede tilfælde henvises yderligere forlæn- gelser af frister til det »tilpasningsudvalg«, der er nedsat i medfør af artikel 9. Det 2. 3. foreslås endvidere, at bestemmelserne om ad hoc-transport af farligt gods inden for den enkelte medlems- stats område fortsat skal være gældende. 1. 5. De pågældende gasser pakkes og transporteres i lastbi- ler f. eks. i form af lightere, spraydåser, kogeudstyr til camping- brug og brændselsmateriale til private husholdninger eller som industrigasser. 3. Generelle bemærkninger 1. 6. Emballering og befordring af farligt gods i klasse 2 (gasser) har gennem ca. 80 år været omfattet af forskellige bestemmelser i medlemsstaternes industri- og færdselslovgiv- ning. 1. 7. Disse nationale bestemmelser kan afvige stærkt fra hinanden f. eks. med hensyn til tekniske krav, hvilket især skyldes klimatiske forhold (f. eks. i Finland eller Grækenland). Derfor er der behov for ensartede, europæiske normer. I de enkelte medlemsstater berøres både regeringer og 1. 8. fagforbund af standardiseringsforanstaltningerne. Der er derfor et stort koordineringsbehov i samtlige medlemsstater. (1) EFT C 171 af 18. 6. 1999, s. 17. Af de anførte grunde er Kommissionens direktivforslag 3. 1. et hensigtsmæssigt tiltag, der må bifaldes. 3. 2. ØSU anbefaler, at de enkelte medlemsstater må anven- de strengere normer end ADR-forskrifterne i forbindelse med lokale transporter. Dette vil også bidrage til at skabe lige vilkår for vej- og jernbanetransport. 3. 3. Der er imidlertid også mulighed for at stille lave krav. ØSU må derfor kræve, at Kommissionen præciserer, hvad den forstår ved begrebet »transporter af lokal karakter«. Det må under ingen omstændigheder forstås så bredt, at det dækker større dele af et distributionsområde. 3. 4. På baggrund af forskellige tidligere hændelser forventer ØSU, at de kompetente regeringer lægger meget strenge kriterier til grund, når de som fravigelse udsteder tilladelser til at udføre ad hoc-transport. 17. 11. 1999 DA De Europæiske Fællesskabers Tidende C 329/11 4. Særlige bemærkninger 4. 1. Når det gælder fravigelser i forbindelse med »transpor- ter af lokal karakter« indeholder direktivforslagets artikel 6, stk. 9, et forbud mod forskelsbehandling. ØSU kræver, at der indføres et tilsvarende forbud ved fravigelser i forbindelse med ad hoc-transporter i henhold til artikel 6, stk. 11. Bruxelles, den 22. september 1999. 4. 2. I redegørelsen for »Den nuværende situation« i begrun- delsen til forslaget anfører Kommissionen, at dette direktiv allerede burde være trådt i kraft den 1. januar 1999. Da dette imidlertid ikke er sket, gælder den nationale 4. 3. lovgivning fortsat. 4. 4. ØSU har forståelse for, at Kommissionen har forholdt sig afventende, før den fremlagde et forslag til forordning, men mener dog, at forslaget bør træde i kraft, før overgangsbestem- melserne udløber. Beatrice RANGONI MACHIAVELLI Formand for Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalg Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalgs udtalelse om »Kommissionens forslag til Europa- Parlamentets og Rådets direktiv om ændring af direktiv 96/49/EF om indbyrdes tilnærmelse af medlemsstaternes lovgivning om jernbanebefordring af farligt gods« (1) (1999/C 329/04) Rådet for Den Europæiske Union besluttede den 7. juni 1999 under henvisning til EF-traktatens artikel 71, stk. 1, litra c), at anmode om Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalgs udtalelse om det ovennævnte emne. Det forberedende arbejde henvistes til ØSU’s Sektion for Transport, Energi, Infrastruktur og Informations- samfundet, som udpegede Helmut Giesecke til ordfører. Sektionen vedtog sin udtalelse den 20. juli 1999. Det Økonomiske og Sociale Udvalg vedtog på sin 366. plenarforsamling af 22. -23. september 1999, mødet den 22. september 1999, følgende udtalelse med 110 stemmer for, mens 2 stemte hverken for eller imod. 1. Indledning 1. 1. I alle EU-lande er borgerne meget opmærksomme på spørgsmålet om transport af farligt gods og de foranstaltninger, der træffes på området. 1. 5. De pågældende gasser pakkes og transporteres pr. jernbane f. eks. i form af lightere, spraydåser, kogeudstyr til campingbrug og brændselsmateriale til private husholdninger eller som industrigasser. Det 1. 2. foreliggende direktivforslag skal bidrage til at garantere sikkerheds- og kvalitetsnormerne i forbindelse med jernbanebefordring af farligt gods. 1. 6. Emballering og befordring af farligt gods i klasse 2 (gasser) har gennem ca. 80 år været omfattet af forskellige bestemmelser i medlemsstaternes industri- og færdselslovgiv- ning. Det vedrører direktiv 96/49/EF, som man endnu ikke 1. 3. har kunnet gennemføre fuldt ud. Det grundlæggende problem er, at EU-normer for 1. 4. tanke og beholdere til transport af farligt gods i klasse 2 (gasser) ikke blev færdiggjort af Den Europæiske Standardise- ringsorganisation (CEN) inden for fristen i CEN’s mandat og direktiv 96/49/EF. (1) EFT C 181 af 26. 6. 1999, s. 25. 1. 7. Disse nationale bestemmelser kan afvige stærkt fra hinanden f. eks. med hensyn til tekniske krav, hvilket især skyldes klimatiske forhold (f. eks. i Finland eller Grækenland). Derfor er der behov for ensartede, europæiske normer. I de enkelte medlemsstater berøres både regeringer og 1. 8. fagforbund af standardiseringsforanstaltningerne. Der er derfor et stort koordineringsbehov i samtlige medlemsstater


title: SKRIFTLIG FORESPØRGSEL E-1662/99 af Laura González Álvarez (GUE/NGL) og Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) til Kommissionen. Amerikanske trusler om sanktioner mod Sol-Melià.

eurovoc_concepts:
Cuba
European undertaking
United States
World Trade Organisation
international sanctions

text: C 170 E/68 De Europ(cid:230)iske F(cid:230)llesskabers Tidende DA 20. 6. 2000 (2000/C 170 E/076) SKRIFTLIG FORESP(cid:216)RGSEL E-1662/99 af Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) og Alonso Puerta (GUE/NGL) til Kommissionen Om: Amerikanske trusler om sanktioner mod Sol-Meli(cid:224) (22. september 1999) Det amerikanske udenrigsministerium er ved at studere mulighederne for at iv(cid:230)rks(cid:230)tte sanktioner over for den spanske hotelgruppe Sol-Meli(cid:224) p(cid:229) grund af dens investeringer i Cuba. USA planl(cid:230)gger at tage afsnit fire i Helms-Burton-loven, som EU anser for ulovlig p(cid:229) grund af dens eksterritoriale karakter, i anvendelse. En gennemfłrelse af denne sanktion ville p(cid:229)virke den internationale frihandel og v(cid:230)re til skade for en af de stłrste spanske turistvirksomheder. 1. Hvor reel er truslen om sanktioner mod Sol-Meli(cid:224)? Hvad vil Kommissionen, hvis det skulle komme dertil, głre for at beskytte den p(cid:229)g(cid:230)ldende 2. europ(cid:230)iske virksomheds interesser? 3. Vil Kommissionen v(cid:230)re indstillet p(cid:229) at indklage Helms-Burton-loven for WTO? Svar afgivet p(cid:229) Kommissionens vegne af Pascal Lamy (13. oktober 1999) Kommissionen skal minde om, at de afgłrelser og erkl(cid:230)ringer vedrłrende Helms-Button-loven og loven vedrłrende sanktionerne mod Iran og Libyen, der blev afgivet p(cid:229) topmłdet den 18. maj 1998 mellem F(cid:230)llesskabet og De Forenede Stater, havde til form(cid:229)l at bane vej for en endelig lłsning p(cid:229) denne vigtige bilaterale konflikt. Kommissionen er fortsat meget bekymret over, at De Forenede Stater ikke har opn(cid:229)et nogen konkrete resultater i forbindelse med deres forpligtelse til at lade kongressen foretage en (cid:230)ndring af afsnit IV i Helms-Burton-loven, ikke mindst fordi de amerikanske myndigheder regelm(cid:230)ssigt har mindet om pr(cid:230)sidentens fortsatte forpligtelse til, i mangel af en s(cid:229)dan (cid:230)ndring, at h(cid:229)ndh(cid:230)ve dette afsnit. Kommissionen har fra sin side altid gjort det klart, at hvis der i henhold til Helms-Burton-loven gennem- fłres sanktioner mod virksomheder eller statsborgere i F(cid:230)llesskabet, vil spłrgsm(cid:229)let uundg(cid:229)eligt give anledning til, at der neds(cid:230)ttes et nyt WTO-panel. Kommissionen har anmodet den amerikanske administration om fra deres side at fremskynde gennem- fłrelsen af aftalen fra topmłdet i maj 1998. Kommissionen fłlger situationen meget nłje og vil fortsat holde Parlamentet underrettet om en eventuel ny udvikling med hensyn til gennemfłrelsen af aftalerne af 18. maj 1998. (2000/C 170 E/077) SKRIFTLIG FORESP(cid:216)RGSEL E-1665/99 af Lucio Manisco (GUE/NGL) til Kommissionen (22. september 1999) Om: Bedrageri med hensyn til l(cid:229)n fra IMF og Den Europ(cid:230)iske Bank for (cid:216)konomisk Genopbygning og Udvikling Direktłren for Den Internationale Monet(cid:230)re Fond, Michel Camdessus, ydede i slutningen af juli 1999 et l(cid:229)n til Den Russiske Fłderation p(cid:229) 4,5 mia. dollars, selv om han havde kendskab til en rapport fra Price Waterhouse, hvoraf det fremgik, at Centralbanken i Moskva allerede i lang tid har overfłrt en del af disse midler til udenlandske finanscentre. Kan Kommissionen oplyse, om der ud over midlerne fra IMF ogs(cid:229) er blevet beg(cid:229)et bedrageri med midlerne til EBRD?


title: SKRIFTLIG FRÅGA E-1683/99 från Glyn Ford (PSE) till kommissionen. Program för mjölk i skolan.

eurovoc_concepts:
EU aid
EU programme
delivery
educational institution
free service
less-favoured region
milk
social policy

text: 20. 6. 2000 SV Europeiska gemenskapernas officiella tidning C 170 E/75 vill jag fr(cid:229)ga kommissionen om f(cid:246)ljande: 1. P(cid:229) vilket s(cid:228)tt st(cid:229)r denna l(cid:229)ga prioritering av politiken f(cid:246)r civilskydd i samklang med ordf(cid:246)rande Prodis f(cid:246)rklaringar den 4 maj om att s(cid:228)kerhetspolitiken i Europeiska unionen b(cid:246)r st(cid:228)rkas? 2. Vilka (cid:229)tg(cid:228)rder (cid:228)mnar kommissionen vidta f(cid:246)r att st(cid:228)rka den europeiska politiken f(cid:246)r civilskydd och skapa ett tillfredsst(cid:228)llande samarbete och utbyte av erfarenheter mellan medlemsstaterna? Svar avgivet p(cid:229) kommissionens v(cid:228)gnar av Margot Wallstr(cid:246)m (18 oktober 1999) R(cid:228)ddningstj(cid:228)nsten omfattas inte av den politik som syftar till att skapa ett omr(cid:229)de med frihet, 1. s(cid:228)kerhet och r(cid:228)ttvisa i unionen. Kommissionen har f(cid:246)reslagit r(cid:229)det ett andra program f(cid:246)r gemenskaps(cid:229)tg(cid:228)rder till 2. f(cid:246)rm(cid:229)n f(cid:246)r r(cid:228)ddningstj(cid:228)nsten f(cid:246)r perioden fr(cid:229)n den 1 januari 2000 till den 31 december 2004 (1). I (cid:246)verensst(cid:228)mmelse med subsidiaritets- och proportionalitetsprinciperna syftar detta program till att st(cid:246)dja och komplettera de anstr(cid:228)ngningar som g(cid:246)rs i medlemsstaterna f(cid:246)r skyddet f(cid:246)r m(cid:228)nniskor, milj(cid:246) och egendom i h(cid:228)ndelse av naturolyckor eller andra allvarliga olycksh(cid:228)ndelser. (1) KOM(98) 768 slutlig (cid:129) EGT C 28, 3. 2. 1999, och (cid:228)ndrat f(cid:246)rslag KOM(1999) 400 slutlig. (2000/C 170 E/084) SKRIFTLIG FR¯GA E-1683/99 fr(cid:229)n Glyn Ford (PSE) till kommissionen (22 september 1999) ˜mne: Program f(cid:246)r mj(cid:246)lk i skolan Kan kommissionen ange om den planerar att avskaffa det subventionerade mj(cid:246)lkprogrammet? Detta program gagnar s(cid:228)rskilt barn i fattigare omr(cid:229)den, i synnerhet barnens intag av kalcium, samt lokala mj(cid:246)kproducenter. Svar avgivet p(cid:229) kommissionens v(cid:228)gnar av Franz Fischler (13 oktober 1999) Kommissionen kan bekr(cid:228)fta att diskussioner har inletts om gemenskapens roll i utdelningen av mj(cid:246)lk p(cid:229) skolor och s(cid:228)rskilt om gemenskapens finansiering d(cid:228)rav. Bakgrunden till detta initiativ (cid:228)r behovet av en regelbunden kritisk granskning av st(cid:246)d(cid:229)tg(cid:228)rder som utg(cid:246)r en betydande b(cid:246)rda f(cid:246)r gemenskapens budget. N(cid:228)r det g(cid:228)ller gemenskapens skolmj(cid:246)lkprogram uppg(cid:229)r utgifterna till (cid:246)ver 100 miljoner euro. Det (cid:228)r mot denna bakgrund som kommissionen best(cid:228)llde en extern utv(cid:228)rdering. Slutsatserna av denna (cid:228)r ganska kritiska betr(cid:228)ffande (cid:229)tg(cid:228)rdens kostnadseffektivitet. Under tiden forts(cid:228)tter diskussioner och r(cid:229)dfr(cid:229)g- ningar om slutsatserna av denna studie. P(cid:229) grundval av dessa anm(cid:228)rkningar kommer kommissionen att (cid:246)verv(cid:228)ga att l(cid:228)gga fram ett lagf(cid:246)rslag om programmets framtid som r(cid:229)det i samr(cid:229)d med parlamentet f(cid:229)r fatta beslut om


title: KIRJALLINEN KYSYMYS E-1668/99 esittäjä(t): Roberta Angelilli (UEN) komissiolle. Euroopan nuorten taiteilijoiden tukeminen.

eurovoc_concepts:
EU aid
EU financing
artistic creation
artistic profession
cultural policy
young person

text: 20. 6. 2000 FI Euroopan yhteis(cid:246)jen virallinen lehti C 170 E/69 Pedro Solbes Miran komission puolesta antama vastaus (3. marraskuuta 1999) Komission kanta v(cid:228)itetyst(cid:228) lahjonnasta Ven(cid:228)j(cid:228)ll(cid:228) on edelleen sama kuin parlamentissa 16. syyskuuta 1999 annetussa julkilausumassa. Vastauksena parlamentin j(cid:228)senen kysymykseen komissio esitt(cid:228)(cid:228) t(cid:228)ss(cid:228) tiedot, jotka se on saanut k(cid:228)ytt(cid:246)(cid:246)ns(cid:228) yhteis(cid:246)n edustajana Euroopan j(cid:228)lleenrakennus- ja kehityspankin (EBRD) hallintoneuvostossa: P(cid:228)(cid:228)oman laiton maastavienti on rikollista toimintaa, mink(cid:228) vuoksi sen harjoittajat yritt(cid:228)v(cid:228)t salata toimintansa viranomaisilta mukaan lukien EBRD. T(cid:228)m(cid:228)n vuoksi EBRD noudattaa rahanpesun vastaisia periaatteita ja edellytt(cid:228)(cid:228) rahoituslaitoksilta, joille se antaa luottoja, vastaavanlaisia sitoumuksia, joilla on tarkoitus pienent(cid:228)(cid:228) todenn(cid:228)k(cid:246)isyytt(cid:228) EBRD:n joutumisesta tahtomattaan mukaan t(cid:228)llaiseen toimintaan. T(cid:228)m(cid:228)n lis(cid:228)ksi kaikille EBRD:n maksuille Ven(cid:228)j(cid:228)lle ja Ven(cid:228)j(cid:228)lt(cid:228) on saatu lupa keskuspankilta. Noin nelj(cid:228)nnes EBRD:n rahoituksesta annetaan ven(cid:228)l(cid:228)isille vastapuolille. Toiminnassaan ven(cid:228)l(cid:228)isten vastapuolten kanssa EBRD rahoittaa vain hyv(cid:228)ksyttyj(cid:228) hankkeita, joissa varojen k(cid:228)ytt(cid:246) on tarkkaan m(cid:228)(cid:228)ritelty. EBRD noudattaa tiukkoja maksujen valvontamenetelmi(cid:228), mik(cid:228) merkitsee sit(cid:228), ett(cid:228) varat maksetaan suoraan hankkeen toteuttajalle aina kun se on mahdollista. Jos k(cid:228)ytet(cid:228)(cid:228)n muita maksume- nettelyit(cid:228) kuten erityistilej(cid:228), tilit t(cid:228)sm(cid:228)ytet(cid:228)(cid:228)n s(cid:228)(cid:228)nn(cid:246)llisesti sen varmistamiseksi, ett(cid:228) varat k(cid:228)ytet(cid:228)(cid:228)n aiottuun tarkoitukseen. Pankki nimitti vuonna 1996 rahanpesuasioista vastaavan virkamiehen, joka pit(cid:228)(cid:228) s(cid:228)(cid:228)nn(cid:246)llisi(cid:228) tiedo- tustilaisuuksia pankin henkil(cid:246)kunnalle. Hiljattain paljastuneen Bank of New Yorkia koskevan tapauksen j(cid:228)lkeen EBRD on tarkastanut vastuunsa Ven(cid:228)j(cid:228)ll(cid:228) ja pyyt(cid:228)nyt tilintarkastajiaan laatimaan selvityksen Ven(cid:228)j(cid:228)ll(cid:228) toteutettavista hank- keista, joihin voi liitty(cid:228) rahanpesun vaara. Vaikka ulkopuolinen selvitys on viel(cid:228) kesken, pankin omaan tarkastukseen perustuva alustava arvio on, ett(cid:228) suoralta k(cid:228)delt(cid:228) ei joihin liittyisi rahanpesuun viittaavaa toimintaa tai transaktioita. l(cid:246)ydy sellaisia hankkeita, Komissiolla ei ole hallussaan todisteita, jotka kyseenalaistaisivat edell(cid:228) esitetyt tiedot. (2000/C 170 E/078) KIRJALLINEN KYSYMYS E-1668/99 esitt(cid:228)j(cid:228)(t): Roberta Angelilli (NI) komissiolle (22. syyskuuta 1999) Aihe: Euroopan nuorten taiteilijoiden tukeminen J(cid:228)senvaltioiden taiteellisen toiminnan tukemiseen tarkoitettuja varoja on suureksi osaksi saatavilla vain sellaisen toiminnan ja sellaisten organisaatioiden kautta, jotka ovat verkostoituneet useampiin j(cid:228)senvalti- oihin. joka on valtava kulttuuriperint(cid:246) ja kehityksenala Sen sijaan suuren osan taiteellisesta tuotannosta, Euroopalle, toteuttavat yksitt(cid:228)iset taiteilijat, joiden toiminta on kiist(cid:228)m(cid:228)tt(cid:246)m(cid:228)n t(cid:228)rke(cid:228)(cid:228) sek(cid:228) kulttuurin ett(cid:228) yhteiskunnan kannalta. On my(cid:246)s muistettava, ett(cid:228) taiteen eri alojen yksitt(cid:228)iset toimijat muodostavat ty(cid:246)llist(cid:228)v(cid:228)n tekij(cid:228)n, jota ei voi aliarvioida. Taiteilijoiden toiminta l(cid:228)nsimaisen ja eurooppalaisen ajattelun ilmaisijana on Euroopan unionin kansalaisten yhteist(cid:228) omaisuutta. Voisiko komissio edell(cid:228) olevan perusteella kertoa, 1. onko olemassa ohjelmia, jotka on tarkoitettu erityisen ansioituneina pidettyjen yksitt(cid:228)isten taiteilijoi- den tukemiseen? 2. ollaanko t(cid:228)ll(cid:228) hetkell(cid:228) suunnittelemassa toimenpiteit(cid:228) t(cid:228)m(cid:228)n tavoitteen saavuttamiseksi? C 170 E/70 Euroopan yhteis(cid:246)jen virallinen lehti FI 20. 6. 2000 3. onko olemassa erityisi(cid:228) tutkimuksia taiteesta EU:ssa ja sen ty(cid:246)llisyysvaikutuksista? 4. mik(cid:228) on sen yleisn(cid:228)kemys asiasta? Viviane Redingin komission puolesta antama vastaus (5. marraskuuta 1999) EY:n perustamissopimuksessa on annettu yhteis(cid:246)lle kulttuurialaa koskevaa toimivaltaa. Perustamissopimuk- sen 151 artiklan (entinen 128 artikla) mukaan yhteis(cid:246) pyrkii toiminnallaan rohkaisemaan j(cid:228)senvaltioiden v(cid:228)list(cid:228) yhteisty(cid:246)t(cid:228), my(cid:246)t(cid:228)vaikuttaa siihen, ett(cid:228) j(cid:228)senvaltioiden kulttuurit kehittyv(cid:228)t kukoistaviksi pit(cid:228)en arvossa niiden kansallista ja kulttuurillista monimuotoisuutta ja suosii kulttuuria koskevaa yhteisty(cid:246)t(cid:228) j(cid:228)senvaltioiden v(cid:228)lill(cid:228) sek(cid:228) kolmansien maiden ett(cid:228) toimivaltaisten kansainv(cid:228)listen j(cid:228)rjest(cid:246)jen kanssa. Yhteis(cid:246)n t(cid:228)h(cid:228)nastista toimintaa kulttuurin hyv(cid:228)ksi kuvastaa kolmen ohjelman (Kaleidoskooppi, Ariane ja Raphael) hyv(cid:228)ksyminen. Uusi puiteohjelma (Kulttuuri 2000) on edennyt eri toimielinten v(cid:228)liseen hyv(cid:228)ksy- mismenettelyyn. 1. Kulttuuria koskevat 151 artiklaan (entinen 128 artikla) perustuvat ohjelmat ovat joka suhteessa perustamissopimuksen ja toissijaisuusperiaatteen mukaisia, joten niiden p(cid:228)(cid:228)tavoite on kannustaa j(cid:228)senval- tioita keskin(cid:228)iseen yhteisty(cid:246)h(cid:246)n kulttuurin alalla. T(cid:228)st(cid:228) syyst(cid:228) komission k(cid:228)yt(cid:228)nn(cid:246)n toimien tarkoitus ei ole yksitt(cid:228)isten taiteilijoiden ty(cid:246)skentelyn tukemi- nen. Sen sijaan komissio tukee hankkeita, joista voidaan osoittaa saatavan todellista eurooppalaista lis(cid:228)arvoa ja joissa on kyse usean ainakin kolmesta j(cid:228)senvaltiosta per(cid:228)isin olevan tahon (toimielimet, organisaatiot, henkil(cid:246)ryhm(cid:228)t) yhteisty(cid:246)st(cid:228). Yhteis(cid:246) tukee yksitt(cid:228)isi(cid:228) taiteilijoita vain er(cid:228)ill(cid:228) eurooppalaisilla palkinnoilla (esim. kirjallisuuden ja k(cid:228)(cid:228)nt(cid:228)misen alan Aristeion-palkinto ja Mies van der Rohe -palkinto saavutuksista eurooppalaisen arkki- tehtuurin alalla). 2. My(cid:246)s Kulttuuri 2000 -ohjelma, joka on parhaillaan eri toimielinten v(cid:228)lisess(cid:228) hyv(cid:228)ksymismenettelyss(cid:228), perustuu EY:n perustamissopimuksen 151 artiklaan, joten ohjelman p(cid:228)(cid:228)tavoitteiden on pysytt(cid:228)v(cid:228) samoina. Komissio hyv(cid:228)ksyi 14. 5. 1998 valmisteluasiakirjan kulttuurista, kulttuurielinkeinosta ja ty(cid:246)llisyy- 3. dest(cid:228) (1). Komissio on (cid:228)skett(cid:228)in ilmaissut n(cid:228)kemyksens(cid:228) yhteis(cid:246)n toiminnan tulevaisuudesta kulttuurin alalla 4. tiedonannossaan Euroopan parlamentille (2). Asiakirjassa k(cid:228)sitell(cid:228)(cid:228)n neuvoston yhteist(cid:228) kantaa yhten(cid:228)isen rahoitus- ja ohjelmointiv(cid:228)lineen k(cid:228)ytt(cid:246)(cid:246)nottoon kulttuuriyhteisty(cid:246)lle, joka liittyy Kulttuuri 2000 -ohjel- maan, ensimm(cid:228)iseen yhteis(cid:246)n t(cid:228)m(cid:228)n alan puiteohjelmaan. (1) (2) SEC(98) 837. SEC(1999) 1227 lopullinen. (2000/C 170 E/079) KIRJALLINEN KYSYMYS E-1674/99 esitt(cid:228)j(cid:228)(t): Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) komissiolle (22. syyskuuta 1999) Aihe: Itsel(cid:228)(cid:228)kint(cid:228) Euroopan parlamentin l(cid:228)(cid:228)kealaa koskevasta teollisuuspolitiikasta antamassa p(cid:228)(cid:228)t(cid:246)slauselmassa (A4-0104/ 96 (1)), jonka parlamentti hyv(cid:228)ksyi 16. huhtikuuta 1996, tarkastellaan itsel(cid:228)(cid:228)kint(cid:228)(cid:228) t(cid:228)rke(cid:228)n(cid:228) osana pitk(cid:228)n aikav(cid:228)lin terveydenhuoltopolitiikkaa. Parlamentin kanta vastaa komission kantaa, jonka t(cid:228)m(cid:228) on esitt(cid:228)nyt 1. kes(cid:228)kuuta 1994 antamassaan tiedonannossa kansanterveyden alalla toteutettavasta terveyden edist(cid:228)mist(cid:228), terveydest(cid:228) tiedottamista, terveyskasvatusta ja -koulutusta koskevasta yhteis(cid:246)n toimintaohjelmasta


title: WRITTEN QUESTION E-1684/99 by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission. Retirement age for fire fighters.

eurovoc_concepts:
European social policy
fire protection
pension scheme
retirement conditions

text: C 170 E/76 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 (2000/C 170 E/085) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1684/99 by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission (22 September 1999) Subject: Retirement age for fire fighters The retirement age for fire fighters is 65 in Finland, while in other European countries it is set by each country(cid:146)s legislation. At the Conference on the Conditions of Employment and Work of Fire-fighting Personnel, which was held in Geneva from 9 to 16 May 1990, the International Labour Organisation recommended a substantial lowering of the retirement age for fire fighters. It is common knowledge that the work of fire fighters is tough and dangerous and it would be justified to follow the ILO recommenda- tion in all EU countries. Does the Commission intend to draw up legislation or, at least, a recommendation concerning lowering the age of retirement for fire fighters in all EU countries? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (26 October 1999) The Commission does not intend to propose any harmonisation of the retirement age for firefighters in the Member States. (2000/C 170 E/086) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1690/99 by Rosa D(cid:237)ez GonzÆlez (PSE) to the Council (20 September 1999) Subject: Death penalty handed down to Spanish citizen Joaqu(cid:237)n JosØ Mart(cid:237)nez in the US On 2 November 1999 the Supreme Court in the US state of Florida will hear an appeal against the death sentence handed down to Spanish citizen Joaqu(cid:237)n JosØ Mart(cid:237)nez, an inmate on (cid:145)death row(cid:146) at Starke prison in the United States. The defence team for this European citizen has stressed that legal guarantees and the presumption of innocence were ignored in reaching such an unspeakable verdict, which many US states still enforce. Given the urgent nature of this case and the fact that such an inhumane punishment is irreversible: 1. What steps has the Council taken to ensure that a universal moratorium on executions (resolution of 18 June 1998) is honoured and that a punishment which constitutes an affront to the most basic democratic values is abolished once and for all, bearing in mind, inter alia, European Parliament and United Nations resolutions and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights? 2. What action can and will the Council take to prevent the execution of Joaqu(cid:237)n JosØ Mart(cid:237)nez from going ahead and ensure that he receives a free and fair trial? Reply (2 December 1999) EU action against the use of the death penalty is a key element of the EU(cid:146)s overall human rights 1. policy. In June 1998, the Council adopted guidelines for EU policy towards third countries on the issue of the death penalty. The final objective is a worldwide abolition of the death penalty. With the view of reaching this objective, where the death penalty still exists, the Council calls upon States to introduce a moratorium and insists that minimum standards be respected. It further encourages States to become party to the international legal instruments that prohibit capital punishment


title: SCHRIFTLICHE ANFRAGE E-1679/99 von Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) an die Kommission. Antibiotika in Futtermittel.

eurovoc_concepts:
antibiotic
food additive
foodstuffs legislation
human nutrition

text: C 170 E/72 Amtsblatt der Europ(cid:228)ischen Gemeinschaften DE 20. 6. 2000 Die Mitgliedstaaten haben sich hinsichtlich der Jagd auf bestimmte Vogelarten zu vergewissern, da(cid:223) die Grunds(cid:228)tze f(cid:252)r eine vern(cid:252)nftige Nutzung und eine (cid:246)kologisch ausgewogene Regulierung der Best(cid:228)nde der betreffenden Vogelarten, insbesondere der Zugvogelarten, eingehalten werden. Sie haben daf(cid:252)r zu sorgen, da(cid:223) insbesondere Zugvogelarten nicht w(cid:228)hrend der Nistzeit oder w(cid:228)hrend der einzelnen Phasen der Brut- und Aufzuchtzeit bejagt werden. Im M(cid:228)rz 1994 hat die Kommission eine ˜nderung dieser Richtlinie vorgeschlagen, wonach es jedem Mitgliedstaat (cid:252)berlassen wird den Zeitraum f(cid:252)r die Jagdsaison auf Zugv(cid:246)gel festzulegen. Der Kommissions- vorschlag, der kein einheitliches Ende der Jagdsaison vorsieht, wurde im Europ(cid:228)ischen Parlament diskutiert. Die Mitglieder des Parlaments sprachen sich in der Abstimmung im Februar 1996 f(cid:252)r ein europaweit einheitliches Ende der Jagdsaison mit 31. Januar jedes Jahres aus. Was wurde seither vom Rat unternommen, um der Forderung des Parlaments nachzukommen? Einige Mitgliedstaaten haben individuell die Jagdsaison f(cid:252)r Zugv(cid:246)gel so festgesetzt, da(cid:223) die Erhaltung bestimmter Vogelarten in Gefahr ist. Die Er(cid:246)ffnung der Jagdsaison in Frankreich etwa f(cid:228)llt in Zeiten, in denen Jungv(cid:246)gel noch abh(cid:228)ngig von der Pflege ihrer Eltern sind. Frankreich verletzt damit Artikel 7 Absatz 4 der Richtlinie 79/0409/EWG. Es wurde aus diesem Grund bereits ein Vertragsverletzungsverfahren eingeleitet. Wie ist der Stand des Verfahrens? Welche Ma(cid:223)nahme wird der Rat ergreifen, damit die Bestimmungen der Richtlinie 79/0409/EWG in allen Mitgliedstaaten umgesetzt wird? (1) ABl. L 103 vom 25. 4. 1979, S. 1. Antwort (2. Dezember 1999) Bei der Pr(cid:252)fung des Kommissionsvorschlags, der darauf abzielt, den Ermessensspielraum der Mitglied- staaten vor allem hinsichtlich des Endes der Jagdsaison genauer zu fassen, hat der Rat insbesondere die M(cid:246)glichkeit eines einheitlichen Enddatums erwogen, das zwischen dem 31. Januar und dem 10. M(cid:228)rz liegen k(cid:246)nnte. Dabei hat der Rat die Stellungnahme des Europ(cid:228)ischen Parlaments von 1996 zugunsten eines europaweit einheitlichen Datums f(cid:252)r das Ende der Jagdsaison (cid:129) den 31. Januar eines jeden Jahres (cid:129) zur Kenntnis genommen. Der Rat konnte allerdings noch keine L(cid:246)sung erzielen, die ein allgemeines Einvernehmen zu allen durch den Kommissionsvorschlag aufgeworfenen Fragen h(cid:228)tte herbeif(cid:252)hren k(cid:246)nnen. Damit solch ein m(cid:246)glichst breites Einvernehmen erzielt werden kann, bestehen derzeit Kontakte zwischen den betreffenden Mitgliedstaaten. (2000/C 170 E/081) SCHRIFTLICHE ANFRAGE E-1679/99 von Marialiese Flemming (PPE-DE) an die Kommission (22. September 1999) Betrifft: Antibiotika in Futtermittel Seit Jahrzehnten werden Antibiotika als Wachstumsf(cid:246)rderer in der Tiermast verwendet. Der Gebrauch dieser Zusatzstoffe birgt jedoch die Gefahr in sich, da(cid:223) auftretende Krankheiten unter Umst(cid:228)nden nicht mit Antibiotika behandelt werden k(cid:246)nnen, da die Bakterien bereits resistent sind. Hinzu kommt, da(cid:223) Reste dieser Antibiotika durch den Konsum von Eiern, Milch, Fleisch etc. in den menschlichen K(cid:246)rper gelangen k(cid:246)nnen, was eine erhebliche gesundheitliche Gefahr darstellt. Schweden hat bereits mit 1. 1. 1986 (cid:129) noch vor dem Beitritt zur EU (cid:129) die Verwendung von Antibiotika als Wachstumsf(cid:246)rderer in der Tiermast verboten. W(cid:228)hrend der (cid:246)sterreichischen Ratspr(cid:228)sidentschaft wurden auch EU-weit vier Antibiotika-Zus(cid:228)tze verboten. 20. 6. 2000 DE Amtsblatt der Europ(cid:228)ischen Gemeinschaften C 170 E/73 Wird sich die Kommission f(cid:252)r ein Verbot s(cid:228)mtlicher Antibiotika als Wachstumsf(cid:246)rderer in Futtermitteln einsetzen? Wenn ja, welche Ma(cid:223)nahmen wird die Kommission ergreifen, um ein solches Verbot in allen Mitglied- staaten durchzusetzen? Antwort von Herrn Byrne im Namen der Kommission (9. November 1999) Die Richtlinie des Rates 70/0524/EWG vom 23. November 1970 (cid:252)ber Zusatzstoffe in der Tierern(cid:228)hrung (1) regelt neben der Zulassung von Antibiotika als Wachstumsf(cid:246)rderer in der Tierern(cid:228)hrung auch den Widerruf der Zulassung. Der Rat hat am 17. Dezember 1998 die Verordnung 2821/0098/EG (2) zur ˜nderung der Richtlinie 70/0524/EWG erlassen. In dieser Verordnung wird die Zulassung von vier Antibiotika (Virginiamycin, Tylosinphosphat, Spiramycin und Bacitracin Zinc) als Zusatzstoffe in der Tierern(cid:228)hrung widerrufen. Diese vier Antibiotika waren mittlerweile als Humanarzneimittel zugelassen worden oder wiesen eine Kreuzresistenz gegen(cid:252)ber in der Humanmedizin verwendete Antibiotika auf. Deshalb wurde beschlossen, diese Antibiotika dem Einsatz in der Humanmedizin vorzubehalten. F(cid:252)r vier andere Antibiotika (Monensin, Salinomycin, Avilamycin und Flavophospholipol) galt das Verbot nicht, denn keine dieser Substanzen wurde zum damaligen Zeitpunkt in der Human- oder Veterin(cid:228)r- medizin verwendet. Das gem(cid:228)(cid:223) den Bestimmungen der Beitrittsakte in Schweden geltende Verbot, Antibiotika als Zusatzstoffe zu verwenden, lief am 31. Dezember 1998 aus. Am 1. Januar 1999 hat Schweden nach Artikel 11 der Richtlinie 70/0524/EWG die Zulassung der vier noch auf dem Markt befindlichen Antibiotika ausgesetzt. Die Kommission und die Mitgliedstaaten (cid:252)berpr(cid:252)fen zur Zeit im St(cid:228)ndigen Futtermittelausschuss die hierzu vorgelegten Unterlagen. Der Wissenschaftliche Lenkungsausschu(cid:223) der Kommission hat am 28. Mai 1999 zur antimikrobiellen Resistenz Stellung genommen. F(cid:252)r Antibiotika, die als Zusatzstoffe in der Tierern(cid:228)hrung verwendet werden, sprach der Ausschu(cid:223) folgende Empfehlungen aus: (cid:132)the use of agents from classes which are or may be used in human medicine should be phased out as soon as possible and ultimately abolished. Efforts should also be made to replace those antimicrobials promoting growth with no known risk of influencing intestinal bacterial infections by non-antimicrobial alternatives. (cid:147) Die Kommission ist diesen Empfehlungen schon im Falle von vier Antibiotika Ende 1998 gefolgt und ist dabei, den Fall eines weiteren Antibiotikums zu pr(cid:252)fen. Sie (cid:252)berlegt auch, wie sie am besten die verbleibenden Antibiotika auf l(cid:228)ngere Sicht vom Markt nehmen und durch nicht-mikrobielle Alternativen ersetzen kann. (1) ABl. L 270 vom 14. 12. 1970. (2) ABl. L 351 vom 29. 12. 1998. (2000/C 170 E/082) SCHRIFTLICHE ANFRAGE E-1680/99 von Karl von Wogau (PPE-DE) an die Kommission (22. September 1999) Betrifft: Wettbewerbsverzerrungen durch Subventionen der Europ(cid:228)ischen Union Teilt die Kommission die Auffassung, dass im Bereich der Alttextilsammlung und (cid:141)sortierung in Deutsch- land eine (cid:220)berkapazit(cid:228)t besteht? Ist der Kommission bekannt, dass die Firma SOEX Textil(cid:141)Vermarktungsgesellschaft mbH, Bad Oldesloe, f(cid:252)r den Aufbau eines Unternehmens in Sachsen-Anhalt eine Beihilfe bekommen hat, obwohl es sich bei diesem Unternehmen um den europ(cid:228)ischen Marktf(cid:252)hrer in diesem Bereich handelt?