.

Γενικότερα, βάσει της οδηγίας 98/41/ΕΚ (50), η ναυτιλιακή εταιρεία υποχρεούται να καταγράφει όλους όσοι επιβαίνουν στο πλοίο, ενώ η οδηγία 2010/65/EΚ (51) απαιτεί την κοινοποίηση από τα πλοία των καταστάσεων επιβατών και πληρώματος στον λιμένα κατάπλου.

Όσον αφορά τις επιχειρήσεις διάσωσης, αυτές διοργανώνονται από τον πλοιοκτήτη, σύμφωνα με τους διεθνείς κανόνες διάσωσης.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003198/12

to the Commission

Georgios Toussas (GUE/NGL)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Safety of human life at sea

The tragic grounding of the Costa Concordia on 13 January 2012 off the coast of Tuscany with 3 200 passengers and a 1 068‐member crew, where thirty passengers lost their lives and another two are still missing; the fire of Monday, 27 February 2012 on board the Costa Allegra, with 636 passengers and a crew of 413, both ships belonging to the company Costa Cruises, an affiliate of the American Carnival group, are the outcome of an insatiable desire, on the part of the cruise ship monopolies to maximise profits through the exploitation of passengers and maritime workers. These maritime accidents are not isolated occurrences: the wreck of the Sea Diamond cruise ship continues to pollute the sea around Santorini. Through a recent court decision, a fine of EUR 1.2 million was imposed on the owners of Sea Diamond for its sinking on Thursday, 5 April 2007 in the Santorini caldera and for pollution from the leakage of oil-derivatives.

International rules concerning the manning and construction of cruise ships present a danger to the safety of human life at sea and the environment. The general services personnel, that is to say the crew members employed in accommodation sectors — three-quarters of the crew — are not included on crew lists, making it easier for shipowners not to pay salaries on the basis of the collective labour agreement of the ship’s flag state, but on the basis of the wage levels of crew members’ country of origin, or to have crew members receiving remuneration exclusively from passenger tips. The latter thus fall victim to the most brutal exploitation from the international slave trade and the cruise ship tourism business groups. The multinational composition of passengers and crew — tourists from 60 countries and crew members from 11 countries on board the Costa Concordia — poses a danger to the safety of ships and to human life at sea. Thousands of passengers and crew members are accommodated in cabins, packed closely together, in dangerous living quarters beneath the water line of the cruise ships, as a means of increasing the passenger numbers, without providing alternative escape routes for passengers and crew in emergency situations.

In view of this:

Does the Commission believe that the rules concerning the manning and construction of cruise ships are sufficient to safeguard the security of crew and passengers?

What is the Commission’s position on the necessity for inclusion of general accommodation services personnel on the crew lists of cruise ships? Does it agree with the demands by public bodies for immediate salvaging of the Sea Diamond and Costa Concordia cruise ships?

Answer given by Mr Kallas on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2012)

In terms of ship construction, all passenger ships which operate internationally are constructed in accordance with the safety rules adopted by the IMO under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) Convention. In addition there is EU legislation regarding ship security set out in Regulation (EC) 725/2004 (53).

The Commission is currently reviewing the existing EU legislative framework, which includes safety rules on the construction, outfitting and survey of domestic passenger ships (54).

‘any person who is employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship’.

More generally, under Directive 98/41/EC (55) the shipping company is required to keep a record of all those on board, while Directive 2010/65/EC (56) requires the notification by ships of passenger and crew lists to the port of arrival.

As regards salvage operations, this is for the shipowner to arrange in accordance with international rules on salvage.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003199/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Konstantinos Poupakis (PPE)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Προσέλκυση ξένων επενδύσεων στην Ελλάδα

Η προσέλκυση ξένων επενδύσεων υψηλής προστιθέμενης αξίας για την ελληνική οικονομία είναι βασική προϋπόθεση για την ανάκαμψή της. Τα τελευταία δύο χρόνια, στο πλαίσιο των Μνημονίων, η προσέλκυση ξένων επενδύσεων προσεγγίζεται χωρίς αποτέλεσμα μέσω της συνεχούς υποτίμησης του μισθολογικού κόστους, την ώρα που οι διαρκείς μεταβολές και η πολυπλοκότητα του φορολογικού συστήματος λειτουργούν αποτρεπτικά τόσο για κάθε σοβαρό επενδυτικό ενδιαφέρον όσο και για την εγχώρια επιχειρηματικότητα. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο, ερωτάται η Επιτροπή:

Απάντηση του κ. Šemeta εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(15 Μαΐου 2012)

Επειδή τα στοιχεία διαφέρουν σημαντικά από έτος σε έτος, ο συνοπτικός πίνακας στο παράρτημα που απεστάλη στον κύριο βουλευτή και στη Γραμματεία του Κοινοβουλίου παρουσιάζει επιλογή μέσων τιμών στοιχείων για την περίοδο 2005-2010, στον οποίο επισημαίνονται με παχιά γράμματα οι πέντε υψηλότερες ή χαμηλότερες τιμές. Επίσης περιλαμβάνονται αναλυτικά βασικά στατιστικά στοιχεία.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003199/12

to the Commission

Konstantinos Poupakis (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Attracting foreign investment to Greece

Attracting high added value foreign investments is vital for the recovery of the Greek economy. Over the last two years, under the Greek Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies unsuccessful attempts have been made to attract foreign investment by continuously cutting the wage bill. Constant changes to the tax system and the complexity thereof, are at the same time deterring any serious investment interest as well as domestic entrepreneurship.

In view of this:

Answer given by Mr Šemeta on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2012)

‘Taxation trends in the European Union’ (KS-DU-11-001-EN-C) e.g. on taxes by economic function (see pp.77 for taxation on capital), on implicit tax rates and on top statutory tax rates (pp. 129) as well as Member State profiles (for Greece pp. 194).

As data vary significantly from year to year, the summary table in the annex sent to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat presents a selection of average data for the 2005-2010 period, where the five highest or lowest values are indicated in bold. Underlying detailed statistics are also included.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003200/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Konstantinos Poupakis (PPE)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Οικονομική κρίση και αύξηση των ποσοστών κατάθλιψης

Κοινή συνισταμένη του συνόλου των σχετικών διεθνών μελετών αποτελεί η έντονη διασύνδεση μεταξύ του χαμηλού εισοδήματος και της αύξησης των πιθανοτήτων εμφάνισης καταθλιπτικών φαινομένων. Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο οι οικονομικές πιέσεις -η μείωση εισοδήματος, η ανεργία, η οικονομική δυσχέρεια -αλλά και άλλες παράμετροι όπως η εργασιακή ανασφάλεια, ο φόβος και η αβεβαιότητα για το μέλλον συνιστούν βασικούς παράγοντες για την εκδήλωση συμπτωμάτων κατάθλιψης. Σύμφωνα με στοιχεία της Ιατρικής Σχολής Αθηνών, το καταγεγραμμένο ποσοστό επικράτησης ενός μείζονος καταθλιπτικού επεισοδίου αυξήθηκε στην Ελλάδα από το 3,3 % το 2008 σε 8,2 % το 2011. Ταυτόχρονα έχει αυξηθεί σημαντικά ο κίνδυνος εμφάνισης καταθλιπτικών συμπτωμάτων σε νέους και έγγαμους, χωρίς αυτό να σημαίνει πως δεν έχουν επηρεαστεί όλα τα στρώματα του ελληνικού πληθυσμού. Σε αυτήν την κατεύθυνση, ερωτάται η Επιτροπή:

Απάντηση του κ. Dalli εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(16 Μαΐου 2012)

Η Επιτροπή έχει επίγνωση των στοιχείων σχετικά με τους ψυχοκοινωνικούς κινδύνους οι οποίοι προκύπτουν από την οικονομική κρίση, ειδικότερα για τις κοινωνικές και ηλικιακές ομάδες που πλήττονται από αυτούς.

Ορισμένα στοιχεία σχετικά με τον αντίκτυπο της οικονομικής κρίσης στην ψυχική υγεία μπορούν να βρεθούν στην έρευνα του Ευρωβαρομέτρου σχετικά με την ψυχική υγεία και την ευεξία, η οποία πραγματοποιήθηκε το 2010 (57). Η εν λόγω έρευνα παρουσιάζει μια επιδείνωση της κατάστασης της ψυχικής υγείας ιδίως για τους εκείνους τους ανθρώπους που αντιμετωπίζουν κοινωνικοοικονομικές δυσκολίες. Ωστόσο, η ιδία αντίληψη της κατάθλιψης προστέθηκε μόνο πρόσφατα στη σειρά δεικτών της ευρωπαϊκής έρευνας ερωτηματολογίου για την υγεία και συνεπώς υπάρχει έλλειψη διαθέσιμων διαχρονικών δεδομένων.

Η Επιτροπή συζητά τις ψυχοκοινωνικές επιπτώσεις της κρίσης και τα μέτρα που πρέπει να ληφθούν για την αντιμετώπισή τους, στην ομάδα κυβερνητικών εμπειρογνωμόνων για την ψυχική υγεία και την ευεξία από τα κράτη μέλη. Οι ανταλλαγές στην εν λόγω ομάδα έδειξαν ότι οι εξελίξεις στα κράτη μέλη διαφέρουν σημαντικά. Αυτό δεν συνηγορεί υπέρ της προστιθέμενης αξίας της ανάπτυξης σχεδίου ενιαίας δράσης για το θέμα αυτό.

Η χρηματοδότηση από τα προγράμματα διαθρωτικών ταμείων της ΕΕ χρησιμοποιείται από τα κράτη μέλη για τη βελτίωση της ψυχοκοινωνικής υποστήριξης των πολιτών. Το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινωνικό Ταμείο, ιδίως, μπορεί να παρέχει υποστήριξη σε πρόσωπα μέσω της προώθησης του υγιούς τρόπου διαβίωσης και της αντιμετώπισης των παραγόντων κινδύνου ή μέσω της παροχής υπηρεσιών αποκατάστασης και επανένταξης, βελτιώνοντας την απασχολησιμότητα καθώς και τα συστήματα και τις δομές που εστιάζονται στην ψυχική υγεία. Για παράδειγμα το ελληνικό πρόγραμμα ΕΚΤ ₫ανάπτυξη του ανθρώπινου δυναμικού 2007-2013₻ περιλαμβάνει ενέργειες σχετικά με την αναβάθμιση των υπηρεσιών ψυχικής υγείας, την ανάπτυξη της πρωτοβάθμιας ιατρικής περίθαλψης και τον εκσυγχρονισμό των υπηρεσιών δημόσιας υγείας.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003200/12

to the Commission

Konstantinos Poupakis (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: The economic crisis and increase in cases of depression

A common finding of all international studies on depression is the close link between low income and an increase in the possibility of developing depression. In this context, financial pressures — income reduction, unemployment, financial difficulties — as well as other criteria such as job insecurity, fear and uncertainty about the future are basic factors that fuel the symptoms of depression. According to data collected by the Athens University Medical School, the recorded prevalence of major depressive episodes rose from 3.3 % in 2008 to 8.2 % in 2011 in Greece. At the same time, the danger of symptoms of depression manifesting among young people and married people rose significantly. This does not mean that other levels of Greek society have not been affected.

In view of this:

Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2012)

The Commission is well aware of evidence about the psychosocial risks which result from the economic crisis, in particular for the social and age groups most affected by it.

Some data about the mental health impact of the economic crisis can be found in the Eurobarometer Survey on Mental health and Well-being, which was carried out in 2010 (58). This survey shows a decline in mental health status in particular among those people experiencing social-economic difficulties. However, self perceived depression was only recently added to the set of indicators of the European Health Interview Survey and there is therefore lack of available longitudinal data.

The Commission is discussing the psychosocial effects of the crisis, and the measures taken against them, in the Group of Governmental experts on mental health and well-being from the Member States. The exchanges in this group have shown that developments in Member States differ significantly, arguing against the added value of developing a single action plan on this issue.

Funding from EU Structural Funds Programmes is being used by Member States to enhance psychosocial support for citizens. The European Social Fund in particular can provide support to people through the promotion of healthy lifestyles and tackling risk factors, or the provision of rehabilitation and reintegration services enhancing employability as well as to systems and structures focusing on mental health. For instance the Greek ESF programme ‘Development of Human Resources 2007-2013’ includes actions on the upgrading of mental health services, the development of primary healthcare and the modernisation of public health services.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003201/12

προς την Επιτροπή (Αντιπρόεδρος/Ύπατη Εκπρόσωπος)

Charalampos Angourakis (GUE/NGL)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: VP/HR — Kαταστολή ενάντια στο κίνημα διαμαρτυρίας των κατοίκων της Aysen

Όπως αναφέρει ανακοίνωση του Κουμμουνιστικού Κόμματος Χιλής, η κυβέρνηση του Προέδρου Sebastián Piñera προσπαθεί με νόμους της εποχής Pinochet για την ₫ασφάλεια του κράτους₻ να αντιμετωπίσει το ειρηνικό κίνημα διαμαρτυρίας των κατοίκων της Aysen, στην Παταγονία, στο νότο της Χιλής

Όπως προειδοποιούν στελέχη του λαϊκού Μετώπου του Aysen, η καταστολή δεν πρόκειται να σταματήσει τον αγώνα. Το κίνημα των κατοίκων απαιτεί λύσεις για τα λαϊκά προβλήματα, για την παιδεία, την υγεία, αξιοπρεπείς μισθούς, ενάντια στην ακρίβεια, για υποδομές και οδική σύνδεση με την υπόλοιπη χώρα. Το κόστος ζωής είναι στην περιοχή, και λόγω των κλιματολογικών συνθηκών, τεράστιο.

Λαϊκές οργανώσεις αναφέρουν δολοφονικές πρακτικές των σωμάτων των καραμπινιέρων και την ενεργοποίηση χουντικών νόμων με τους οποίους διώκονται μέχρι στιγμής 22 συλληφθέντες.

Ερωτάται η Αντιπρόεδρος και Ύπατη Εκπρόσωπος Catherine Ashton αν καταδικάζει τις απαράδεκτες τρομοκρατικές ενέργειες της κυβέρνησης της Χιλής σε βάρος των κινητοποιήσεων και των δικαίων αιτημάτων του λαού της περιοχής της Aysen.

Απάντηση της Ύπατης Εκπροσώπου/Αντιπροέδρου Ashton εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(15 Ιουνίου 2012)

Η Επιτροπή και η Ύπατη Εκπρόσωπος/Αντιπρόεδρος (ΥΕ/ΑΠ) παρακολούθησαν με προσοχή το κίνημα διαμαρτυρίας στην περιφέρεια Aysén στο νότο της Χιλής, το οποίο συντονίστηκε από το κοινωνικό κίνημα για την περιφέρεια Aysén (MSPRA) και άρχισε στις αρχές Φεβρουαρίου 2012. Μετά από διαβουλεύσεις μεταξύ των αρχών της Χιλής και του MSPRA, τα μέρη υπέγραψαν συμφωνία στις 23 Μαρτίου 2012 που περιλάμβανε δεσμεύσεις σχετικά με την υγεία, την παιδεία, τη συγκοινωνιακή σύνδεση, τις υποδομές και τις επιδοτήσεις υγρών καυσίμων και καυσόξυλων για τους κατοίκους της Aysén, και έχει συμφωνηθεί χρονοδιάγραμμα για την εφαρμογή των δεσμεύσεων αυτών.

Η ΥΕ/ΑΠ σημειώνει ότι το εθνικό ινστιτούτο για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα (INDH) της Χιλής εξέδωσε εκθέσεις σχετικά με δύο ανεξάρτητες αποστολές παρακολούθησης τις οποίες πραγματοποίησε στην Aysén μετά από αίτημα του MSPRA, στις 22-25 Φεβρουαρίου και στις 13-17 Μαρτίου αντίστοιχα, οι οποίες αναφέρουν ότι κάποιοι διαδηλωτές, άλλα μέλη του κοινού και αστυνομικοί υπέστησαν σωματικές βλάβες κατά τη διάρκεια των διαδηλώσεων. Το INDH, τόνισε ότι η υποχρέωση των κρατών να διατηρούν τη δημόσια τάξη δεν υπερτερεί της υποχρέωσης τους να σέβονται και να εξασφαλίζουν τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, εξέφρασε την ανησυχία του σχετικά με τη συμπεριφορά των ειδικών δυνάμεων της στρατιωτικοποιημένης αστυνομίας (Fuerzas Especiales de Carabineros), και έκανε σχετικές συστάσεις προς τις αρμόδιες αρχές της Χιλής. Μετά από την παρέμβαση του INDH, το Υπουργείο Εσωτερικών απέσυρε τις κατηγορίες που είχε απαγγείλει βάσει του νόμου περί εσωτερικής ασφάλειας εναντίον 22 διαδηλωτών, απόφαση που επιδοκιμάστηκε από το MSPRA. Καθότι βρέθηκε λύση μέσω διαπραγματεύσεων και οι διαδηλώσεις σταμάτησαν, και έχοντας υπόψη τον αποτελεσματικό ρόλο του εθνικού ινστιτούτου για τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα στην διερεύνηση των εικαζόμενων παραβιάσεων των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και στην πραγματοποίηση των σχετικών διαβημάτων προς τις αρχές, η ΥΕ/ΑΠ θεωρεί ότι δεν απαιτείται καμία περαιτέρω ενέργεια.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003201/12

to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)

Charalampos Angourakis (GUE/NGL)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: VP/HR — Repression of the protest movement of Aysen inhabitants

As reported in a communiqué from the Communist Party of Chile, the government of President Sebastian Piñera is trying, with the assistance of laws on ‘state security’ dating from the Pinochet era, to deal with the peaceful protest movement of the inhabitants of Aysen in Patagonia, in southern Chile.

Leaders of the Socialist People’s Front of Aysen have warned that repression will not end the struggle. The protest movement by local residents is seeking solutions to grassroots problems concerning education, health, decent wages and an answer to inflation, together with infrastructure and a road link to the rest of the country. The cost of living in the region is colossally high, partly owing to the climatic conditions.

Grassroots organisations refer to murderous practices by police units and the enforcement of laws passed by the military junta, under which there have been prosecutions of 22 of those arrested so far.

In view of this:

Does the High Representative/Vice-President Baroness Ashton condemn the unacceptable terrorist practices adopted by the Chilean Government in clamping down on these protest movements and on the just demands of the people of the Aysen region?

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2012)

The Commission and the HR/VP followed closely the protest movement in Chile’s southern Aysén region that was coordinated by the Social Movement for the Aysén Region (MSPRA) and began in early February 2012. Following talks between the Chilean authorities and the MSPRA, the parties signed an agreement on 23 March 2012 containing commitments relating to health, education, employment, connectivity, infrastructure and fuel and firewood subsidies for the inhabitants of Aysén; and a timetable was agreed for their implementation.

The HR/VP notes that Chile's National Institute for Human Rights (INDH) undertook two independent observation missions in Aysén at the request of the MSPRA, from 22 to 25 February 2012 and 13 to 17 March 2012 respectively, reporting that some protestors, other members of the public and police officers sustained injuries during the protests. The INDH underlined that a state’s obligation to maintain public order does not outweigh its duty to respect and guarantee human rights; expressed concern about the behaviour of the special forces of the militarised police (Fuerzas Especiales de Carabineros); and made relevant recommendations to the respective Chilean authorities. Following the intervention of the INDH, the Ministry of the Interior has dropped charges brought under the Law on State Security against 22 protestors, a decision which was welcomed by the MSPRA. As a negotiated solution has been found and the protests have ceased, and having regard to the effective role of the National Institute for Human Rights in investigating alleged human rights abuses and making relevant interventions with the authorities, the HR/VP does not consider any further action is required.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003202/12

to the Commission

Robert Sturdy (ECR)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Effects of the ETS on global trade

Four of the EU’s major trading partners, China, India, Russia and the US, have all warned of possible trade retaliation over the highly restrictive and costly European Emissions Trading Scheme.

Chinese airlines have already cancelled GBP 8.8bn of orders for European aircraft following the introduction of the charges, which came into effect on 1 January 2012.

— During the consultation phase of drafting the ETS regulation did the Commission receive any indications from our trading partners, especially concerning possible reprisals against the EU?

— Has the Commission engaged in any high-level discussions bilaterally or at multilateral level with these countries in the hope of finding a compromise solution in order to prevent a trade war?

— Has the Commission carried out any internal or external impact studies to weigh up the environmental benefits versus the economic ramifications of the scheme in the light of these complaints? If so, can the Commission share the details of its consultations and findings?

— Has the Commission carried out any assessment of the potential impact this regulation will have on transport routes, European transfer hubs, and consumer choice and flight costs?

— Has the ETS been raised as a potential barrier to trade during the ongoing negotiations for a deep and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India? If so, can the Commission offer details of these discussions, and if and how negotiators plan to address these concerns?

Answer given by Ms Hedegaard on behalf of the Commission

(10 May 2012)

3 and 4. The Commission has carried out a full impact assessment on the extension of the EU ETS to aviation. The information required by the Honourable Member is available on the Commission's website (60).

The Commission would further refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E‐006692/2011 by Mr Kamall (61).

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003206/12

to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)

Marina Yannakoudakis (ECR)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: VP/HR — Dramatic events of 7 February 2012 in the Maldives: security forces allegedly grab power in a coup d'état, forcing President Mohamed Nasheed to resign

What political support can the Commission offer to the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations in highlighting the dramatic events in the Maldives on 7 February 2012, when the security forces allegedly grabbed power in a coup d’état, forcing President Mohamed Nasheed to resign?

The EEAS is asked to look into reports that:

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(24 May 2012)

The EU has been supporting the democratic transition in the Maldives since before the 2008 elections and continues to engage actively on democratic governance in the Maldives.

The EU Head of Delegation (HoD) in Sri Lanka, also accredited to the Maldives, together with the EU Missions and other like-minded countries, is in contact with political forces and government authorities and continues to advocate for calm and for the restoration of the democratic process, including early elections and an independent inquiry into the transfer of power. This diplomatic approach includes missions to the Maldives and frequent meetings with political actors on visits to Colombo.

In parallel, the European External Action Service (EEAS) Headquarter (HQ) is in contact with UN and Commonwealth representatives in order to ensure a coordinated and effective approach, and is regularly in touch with the Maldives' Ambassador to the EU in Brussels. In these contacts, EEAS and EU HoD are stressing the importance of respect for the constitution, the rule of law and human rights, which are central to the process of democratic transition.

EU HoD and EEAS HQ are aware that religion and religious radicalization have been used, and continue to be used, as a political tool in the Maldives.

The Honourable Member may refer to the High Representative/Vice-President's declaration released on behalf of the EU calling on all parties to refrain from violence, inflammatory rhetoric and any provocative actions which could threaten the future of democracy in the Maldives (http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/index_en.htm; A 68/12 dated 21 February 2012).

The Honourable Member may also refer to HR/VP Ashton's recent declaration released on behalf of the EU on 20 March 2012 (http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/index_en.htm).

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003207/12

to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)

Marina Yannakoudakis (ECR)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: VP/HR — Article 475 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which in ‘special circumstances’, and allegedly in the interest of public morality, allows rapists to marry their underage victims

Can the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton, say what pressure is being exerted on Prime Minister Benkirane to repeal Article 475 of the Moroccan Penal Code, which in ‘special circumstances’, and allegedly in the interest of public morality, allows rapists to marry their underage victims?

Would the EEAS agree that it is unacceptable and scandalous that:

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 2012)

The Commission considers that Morocco is making general progress towards greater compliance with human rights principles. In particular, the new Constitution includes significant measures with regard to human rights and fundamental freedoms, such as the creation of the National Council for Human Rights. The Commission, however, agrees that further improvements are needed, in particular in the area of gender equality and the fight against gender discrimination.

As regards efforts to combat violence against women, this issue is explicitly covered in the new EU‐Morocco Action Plan which is currently being negotiated in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy. In particular, it includes among its priorities, the reform of the criminal code and the adoption of a law on marital abuse.

Furthermore, the Commission is launching a sector reform programme (covering 2012-2015) supporting the Government’s Gender Equality Action Plan (Agenda Gouvernemental de l'Egalité), worth EUR 45 million. The programme will support efforts to combat violence against women, strengthen gender equality in policy-making, and provide capacity building, education and training for legal professionals and women generally on these issues.

Respect for human rights is at the heart of the dialogue with Morocco and consequently this issue is regularly addressed in the meetings of the relevant joint bodies established under the EU Morocco Association Agreement. Moreover, the Advanced Status, to which Morocco has acceded in its relations with the EU, implies that progress is being made in this area and the EU is committed to ensuring close follow up in this regard. The High Representative/Vice-President, in particular, expects Morocco to implement fully the principle of parity enshrined in the new Constitution.

(Versione italiana)

Interrogazione con richiesta di risposta scritta E-003211/12

alla Commissione

Sonia Alfano (ALDE)

(26 marzo 2012)

Oggetto: Impianto di combustione a biomasse a Menfi (provincia di Agrigento): contrarietà di popolazione e autorità locali e lacune dell'iter autorizzativo

L'11.1.2006 la ditta Tre Tigli s.r.l. ha presentato istanza all'Assessorato regionale per ottenere l'autorizzazione integrata ambientale, ai sensi del decreto legislativo 59/2005, per la realizzazione di un impianto da 15 MW per la produzione di energia elettrica tramite la combustione di biomasse nel territorio del comune di Menfi (contrada Feudotto-Genovese), senza avere preventivamente informato la cittadinanza locale, come previsto dalle procedure per la realizzazione di impianti industriali e dalla convenzione di Aarhus. Il 30.5.2007 l'Assessorato regionale Territorio e Ambiente ha rilasciato l'autorizzazione integrata ambientale con 41 prescrizioni, tali da far ritenere inopportuno il suddetto rilascio. Il 10.7.2007 la Commissione Provinciale per la Tutela Ambientale di Agrigento (Regione Sicilia) ha inviato una nota alla ditta proponente il progetto, chiedendo delucidazioni riguardo al fatto che l'impianto proposto, indicato come impianto a biomasse, presenta caratteristiche tecniche che, secondo le linee guida regionali, sono simili a quelle di un inceneritore. Appare evidente, anche in questo caso, l'uso improprio del termine ₫centrale a biomassa₻ in quanto si tratta di fatto di un inceneritore. Il 12 gennaio 2008 l'associazione ₫Menfi Vive₻, le cantine Settesoli, il WWF Italia, l'Unione Agricoltori e diversi cittadini hanno presentato ricorso al TAR (Tribunale amministrativo regionale) della Sicilia avverso il decreto dell'assessorato col quale è stata rilasciata l'autorizzazione. Il ricorso risulta ad oggi pendente. Il 14.2.2008 il Sindaco di Menfi, dando seguito a diverse delibere del Consiglio Comunale, ha presentato ricorso straordinario al Presidente della Regione Siciliana avverso l'autorizzazione integrata ambientale, per violazione degli obblighi di annuncio pubblico del progetto ai fini della consultazione e della partecipazione della popolazione e dei soggetti interessati all'iter autorizzativo. Il 6.3.2012 si è celebrato un ulteriore Consiglio Comunale Aperto per ribadire la netta ed unanime contrarietà alla realizzazione del suddetto impianto a biomasse; l’evento ha visto la partecipazione di numerosi cittadini singoli e di cinquanta associazioni variamente rappresentative della maggioranza dei cittadini di Menfi, che hanno inviato una lettera alla Tre Tigli s.r.l. per invitarla ad abbandonare definitivamente il progetto.

Si chiede pertanto alla Commissione se, alla luce dei fatti esposti, ritiene di intervenire presso le autorità competenti per ottenere maggiori informazioni e per garantire la piena e corretta partecipazione della popolazione alle scelte che riguardano il territorio, nel rispetto delle normative e delle convenzioni vigenti.

Risposta data da Janez Potočnik a nome della Commissione

(29 maggio 2012)

Considerato che le informazioni comunicate dall'onorevole parlamentare non sono abbastanza particolareggiate e dato che la capacità menzionata dell'impianto in questione può riferirsi sia al consumo, sia alla produzione, la Commissione non è in grado di fornire una risposta esaustiva all'interrogazione.

Un impianto alimentato a biomasse con potenza termica nominale inferiore a 50 MW non rientrerebbe nell’ambito di applicazione della direttiva 2008/1/CE sulla prevenzione e la riduzione integrale dell'inquinamento (63) né della direttiva 2001/80/CE concernente la limitazione delle emissioni nell’atmosfera di taluni inquinanti originati dai grandi impianti di combustione (64). Rientrerebbe tuttavia nell’allegato II della direttiva 2011/92/UE, concernente la valutazione dell'impatto ambientale di determinati progetti pubblici e privati (65) e spetterebbe quindi allo Stato membro stabilire se tale valutazione debba esser eseguita.

Qualora l'impianto effettui l'incenerimento o il coincenerimento dei rifiuti può anche rientrare nell'ambito della direttiva 2000/76/CE (66). È tuttavia opportuno osservare che, a norma dell'articolo 2, paragrafo 2, sono esclusi dall'ambito di applicazione della direttiva in questione taluni rifiuti, come i rifiuti vegetali derivati dall'agricoltura e dalla silvicoltura nonché alcuni tipi di rifiuti lignei.

Tenuto conto dei procedimenti giudiziari nazionali in corso nei confronti dell'impianto in questione, in questa fase la Commissione non intende adottare ulteriori azioni.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003211/12

to the Commission

Sonia Alfano (ALDE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Biomass combustion plant in Menfi (province of Agrigento): opposition of the population and local authorities and shortcomings in the authorisation process

On 11 November 2006, the company Tre Tigli s.r.l. submitted an application to the regional planning office to obtain an integrated environmental permit, pursuant to Legislative Decree No 59/2005, to construct a 15 MW electricity generation plant powered by biomass combustion in the municipality of Menfi (Feudotto-Genovese district). This was done without having given prior notification to the local population, as stipulated by the procedures for the construction of industrial plants and by the Aarhus Convention. On 30 May 2007, the regional planning and environment office issued the integrated environmental permit with 41 conditions, such as to make issuing the permit seem inappropriate. On 10 July 2007, the Agrigento provincial environmental protection committee (region of Sicily) sent a note to the company that proposed the project, asking for explanations regarding the fact that the proposed plant, indicated as a biomass plant, had technical characteristics that, according to regional guidelines, were similar to those of an incinerator. It seems clear, in this case, too, that the term ‘biomass plant’ has been used inappropriately, since this is in fact an incinerator. On 12 January 2008, the Menfi Vive association, the Settesoli wine growers’ association, WWF Italy, the farmers’ union and several citizens submitted an appeal to the regional administrative court of Sicily against the regional office’s decree issuing the permit. The appeal is currently pending. On 14 February 2008, the Mayor of Menfi, following on from several decisions of the municipal council, submitted a special appeal to the President of the Region of Sicily against the integrated environmental permit, on account of violation of the obligations to notify the public of the project for the purposes of consultation and participation of the population and other interested parties in the authorisation process. Another open municipal council meeting was held on 6 March 2012 to reiterate the clear and unanimous opposition to the construction of the aforementioned biomass plant. Many individuals attended the event, as well as 50 associations representing various interests of the majority of Menfi's citizens, who had sent a letter to Tre Tigli s.r.l. to call on it to abandon the project once and for all.

Can the Commission therefore say whether, in view of the above, it intends to call on the competent authorities to obtain more information and to guarantee the full and proper participation of the population in choices regarding the region, in compliance with the legislation and conventions in force?

Answer given by Mr Potočnik on behalf of the Commission

(29 May 2012)

As the information provided by the Honourable Member does not provide sufficient detail, and given that the mentioned capacity of the plant concerned may refer to either its input or output, the Commission cannot provide a comprehensive answer to the question.

A biomass fuelled plant with a rated thermal input below 50 MW would not fall under the scope of Directive 2008/1/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (67) nor Directive 2001/80/EC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants (68). It would however fall under Annex II of Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (69) and the Member State would, therefore, have to determine whether such an assessment should be undertaken.

Should the installation actually incinerate or co-incinerate waste it may also fall under Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste (70). However, it should be noted that there are certain wastes that are excluded under Article 2(2) from the scope of this directive including vegetable waste from agriculture and forestry and certain types of wood waste.

Given the ongoing national legal proceedings pending for the installation concerned the Commission does not intend to take further action at this stage.

(Wersja polska)

Pytanie wymagające odpowiedzi pisemnej E-003212/12

do Rady

Janusz Wojciechowski (ECR)

(26 marca 2012 r.)

Przedmiot: Rozporządzenie zmieniające dyrektywę 2001/18/WE w zakresie umożliwienia państwom członkowskim ograniczenia lub zakazania uprawy GMO na swoim terytorium

W dniu 5 lipca 2011 r. Parlament Europejski większością głosów przyjął rezolucję legislacyjną w sprawie wniosku dotyczącego rozporządzenia Parlamentu Europejskiego i Rady zmieniającego dyrektywę 2001/18/WE w zakresie umożliwienia państwom członkowskim ograniczenia lub zakazania uprawy organizmów zmodyfikowanych genetycznie na swoim terytorium (COM(2010) 0375 – C7-0178/2010)

— Proszę o informację, kiedy można spodziewać się porozumienia w Radzie w sprawie przyjęcia wyżej wymienionego rozporządzenia?

— Które państwa członkowskie popierają, a które sprzeciwiają się tej propozycji? Jakie jest stanowisko Rządu Polski w tej sprawie?

Odpowiedź

(6 czerwca 2012 r.)

Odpowiadając na zadane pytanie, Rada może uaktualnić informacje, które przekazała Panu Posłowi w marcu 2012 r. w związku z jego pytaniem wymagającym odpowiedzi na piśmie (E-001718/2012).

9 marca 2012 r. Rada podczas debaty jawnej przedyskutowała wniosek kompromisowy (71) przygotowany przez prezydencję po ustaleniach technicznych, których dokonano w styczniu i lutym 2012 r. Kompromisowy tekst prezydencji wynikał z ostatnio uzgodnionego ustawodawstwa UE w zakresie produktów biobójczych (72).

Propozycje prezydencji spotkały się z dużym poparciem, lecz w Radzie wciąż prowadzone są dyskusje zmierzające do osiągnięcia porozumienia ogólnego.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003212/12

to the Council

Janusz Wojciechowski (ECR)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Regulation amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of GMOs in their territory

On 5 July 2011 the European Parliament adopted by majority vote a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified organisms in their territory (COM(2010) 0375 — C7‐0178/2010).

— When can an agreement be expected in the Council on the adoption of the abovementioned regulation?

— Which Member States are in favour, and which oppose this proposal? What is the Polish Government’s position on this matter?

Reply

(6 June 2012)

By way of response, the Council can provide an update to the information it provided to the Honourable Member in March 2012 in response to Written Question (E‐001718/2012).

On 9 March 2012, the Council held a public debate focused on a compromise proposal (73) drawn up by the Presidency in the light of technical discussions held in January and February 2012. The Presidency compromise text was inspired by recently agreed EU legislation on biocidal products (74).

Whilst there was significant support for the Presidency's proposals, discussions are continuing within the Council with the aim of reaching an overall agreement.

(Versão portuguesa)

Pergunta com pedido de resposta escrita E-003213/12

à Comissão

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 de março de 2012)

Assunto: Desenvolvimentos do Acordo UE-Mercosul

Tendo em conta que:

Pergunta-se à Comissão:

Resposta dada por Karel De Gucht em nome da Comissão

(11 de maio de 2012)

Estão em curso negociações com o Mercosul. Foram realizados progressos satisfatórios no que se refere à parte normativa do acordo. Em relação às regras de origem, a maior parte das regras horizontais foi acordada, estando atualmente em curso trabalhos em matéria de regras específicas setoriais. Em matéria de propriedade intelectual, incluindo as indicações geográficas, as discussões estão a avançar lentamente. Foram realizados progressos satisfatórios em matéria de serviços e investimento e em matéria de contratos públicos. No que diz respeito aos capítulos de cooperação política, está atualmente a ser debatido um artigo relativo à cooperação em matéria de migração. Até agora, não se realizaram debates em matéria de acesso ao mercado para as mercadorias, pelo que, nesta fase, não estão disponíveis dados sobre a percentagem de liberalização.

A clara intenção é que o acordo inclua um capítulo sobre medidas sanitárias e fitossanitárias e um capítulo sobre o comércio e o desenvolvimento sustentável.

A Comissão considera que este acordo poderia gerar vantagens económicas e políticas consideráveis tanto para a UE como para o Mercosul. A este respeito, foi elaborada, em 2011, uma avaliação do impacto económico por consultores independentes. Os resultados mostram que um Acordo UE-Mercosul acarretará um benefício líquido global considerável para a economia da UE: o produto interno bruto (PIB) da UE deverá aumentar de 14,7 euros para 21,4 euros. Este benefício líquido no PIB da UE já tem em consideração o impacto previsto resultante da agricultura. Em relação ao setor agrícola, uma avaliação de impacto específica mostra que o rendimento agrícola europeu sofrerá uma redução de 0,4 %, passando para 1,2 %.

A Comissão está plenamente consciente da sensibilidade de determinados setores agrícolas e terá em conta esses elementos ao negociar a oferta de acesso ao mercado.

Não há prazo para a conclusão do acordo, mas a UE espera que as negociações possam estar concluídas em breve.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003213/12

to the Commission

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Developments regarding the EU‐Mercosur Agreement

EU‐Mercosur relations are based on the Interregional Framework Cooperation Agreement, in force since July 1999, and the EU has been attempting since then to create a bi-regional partnership that will lead, in the long term, to a free trade area.

Mercosur is the fourth largest economic bloc in the world and includes emerging economies with great potential for growth, such as Brazil and Argentina.

Although the impact of the economic and financial crisis on this region has been smaller than in Europe, it has caused the regional integration process to slow down.

Negotiations with Mercosur were relaunched in 2010 by the Spanish Presidency and no time limit has been established for their conclusion; the projected agreement is an essential factor for stability and growth in Latin America.

The finalisation of the agreement has become increasingly controversial, owing to the effects that it will supposedly have on the European agricultural sector and the resulting need for compensation measures.

Answer given by Mr De Gucht on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 2012)

Negotiations with Mercosur are ongoing. Good progress has been made on the normative part of the agreement. On rules of origin,most of the horizontal rules have been agreed and work is now ongoing on sector specific rules. On intellectual property, including Geographical Indications, discussions are moving slowly. Good progress has been made on services and investment and on public procurement. An article concerning cooperation on migration is currently being discussed in the political cooperation chapters. There have been no discussions on market access for goods so far and no figures on the percentage of liberalisation are therefore available at this stage.

The clear intention is for the Agreement to include a chapter on sanitary and phytosanitary measures and a chapter on trade and sustainable development.

The Commission believes that this Agreement could generate considerable economic and political benefits for both the EU and Mercosur. In this respect, an economic impact assessment was prepared by independent consultants in 2011. The results show that an EU‐Mercosur Agreement would deliver an overall sizeable net gain for the EU economy: EU Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would increase from EUR 14.7 to EUR 21.4. This net gain in EU GDP already takes into consideration the expected impact stemming from agriculture. For the agricultural sector, a specific impact assessment shows that European agricultural income would be reduced by 0.4 % to 1.2 %.

The Commission is fully aware of the sensitiveness of certain agricultural sectors and will take these elements into account when negotiating the market access offer.

There is no deadline for the completion of the Agreement but the EU certainly hopes that negotiations could be concluded soon.

(Versiunea în limba română)

Întrebarea cu solicitare de răspuns scris E-003214/12

adresată Comisiei

Rareş-Lucian Niculescu (PPE)

(26 martie 2012)

Subiect: Acțiuni periculoase de igienizare a terenurilor agricole

Peste 930 de incendii de vegetație uscată s-au înregistrat, la nivel național, în ultimele zile, în România, ca urmare a acțiunilor de igienizare a terenurilor agricole, grădinilor și curților de vegetația uscată și resturi menajere.

Comisia este rugată sa precizeze dacă această practică poate fi considerată compatibilă cu bunele condiții agricole și de mediu impuse de legislația europeană.

Răspuns dat de dl Cioloș în numele Comisiei

(23 mai 2012)

În temeiul articolului 6 din Regulamentul (CE) nr. 73/2009 (75), statele membre trebuie să se asigure că terenurile agricole sunt menținute în bune condiții agricole și de mediu (GAEC). În acest scop, trebuie definite standardele enumerate în anexa III la acest regulament, care pot viza aspectul semnalat de distinsul membru.

În ceea ce privește controlul arderii vegetației uscate, autoritățile române au instituit o interdicție de ardere a miriștilor și resturilor de vegetație ierboasă de pe terenurile agricole și o interdicție de ardere a vegetației de pe pășunile permanente, în temeiul standardelor GAEC privind „gestionarea miriștilor” și „protejarea pășunilor permanente”.

Prin urmare, în acest cadru juridic, posibilitatea declanșării unor incendii de vegetație uscată ar trebui să fie limitată.

Cu toate acestea, în ceea ce privește aplicarea și controlul implementării GAEC, autorităților române le revine deplina responsabilitate de a asigura verificarea efectivă a normelor de eco-condiționalitate.

Deficiențele în materie de implementare și de control al acestor norme fac obiectul unor audituri realizate de serviciile Comisiei, care pot conduce la impunerea de corecții financiare statelor membre.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003214/12

to the Commission

Rareş-Lucian Niculescu (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Dangerous actions in the clearing of agricultural land

More than 930 dry vegetation fires have recently been recorded throughout Romania as a result of farmland, gardens and courtyards being cleared of dry vegetation and household waste.

Does the Commission consider this practice to be compatible with the good agricultural and environmental conduct required under European legislation?

Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2012)

Pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 (76), Member States shall ensure that agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC). For this purpose, different standards as listed in Annex III of this same regulation have to be defined and can concern the issue raised by our honourable member.

As regards the control of the burning of dry vegetation, Romanian Authorities have set up a ban of burning of stubble and plant remains on arable land as well as a ban of burning of vegetation on permanent pastures respectively under GAEC ‘arable stubble management’ and GAEC ‘protection of permanent pasture’.

Therefore, in this legal framework, the possibility of dry vegetation fire should be limited.

Nevertheless, as regards the enforcement of GAEC and control in the field, the Romanian authorities have full responsibility for assuring the effective verification of the rules under cross compliance.

Weaknesses in the implementation and control of such rules are subject to audits by Commission services and can lead to financial corrections imposed on Member States.

(Versiunea în limba română)

Întrebarea cu solicitare de răspuns scris E-003215/12

adresată Comisiei

Rareş-Lucian Niculescu (PPE)

(26 martie 2012)

Subiect: Cota de izoglucoză a României

Comisia este rugată să ofere Parlamentului următoarele informații:

Răspuns dat de dl Cioloș în numele Comisiei

(2 mai 2012)

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003215/12

to the Commission

Rareş-Lucian Niculescu (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Romania's isoglucose quota

The Commission is asked to provide Parliament with the following information:

Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2012)

(Versiunea în limba română)

Întrebarea cu solicitare de răspuns scris E-003216/12

adresată Comisiei

Rareş-Lucian Niculescu (PPE)

(26 martie 2012)

Subiect: Atacul armat de la colegiul evreiesc din Toulouse (Franța)

Recent, un atac armat în fața unui colegiu-liceu evreiesc din Toulouse (Franța), comis de o persoană necunoscută, s-a soldat cu patru morți, dintre care trei copii. Comisia este rugată să comunice Parlamentului:

Răspuns dat de dna Reding în numele Comisiei

(15 mai 2012)

Comisia Europeană a condamnat în repetate rânduri toate manifestările de antisemitism și se angajează să lupte împotriva acestora cu toate mijloacele pe care le are la dispoziție în temeiul tratatelor. În ceea ce privește măsurile concrete, Comisia ar dori să aducă în atenția distinsului deputat răspunsurile sale la întrebările cu solicitare de răspuns scris E‐008195/2011, E‐006161/2011 și E‐000943/2011 (79).

Referitor la finanțarea UE în vederea combaterii antisemitismului, există mai multe programe de finanțare care pot contribui la atingerea acestui scop (80). Programul „Drepturi fundamentale și cetățenie” are printre obiectivele sale generale „lupta împotriva rasismului, xenofobiei și antisemitismului și promovarea unei mai bune înțelegeri interconfesionale și interculturale și a unei toleranțe sporite pe întreg teritoriul Uniunii Europene”. Cererea curentă de granturi pentru acțiuni, care tocmai a fost închisă, prevede un pachet financiar în valoare de 20 975 de milioane EUR, care acoperă și această prioritate, pe lângă altele. În evaluarea intermediară a programului prezentată în anul 2011 s-a concluzionat că în perioada 2007‐2009, 50 % din fondurile alocate au fost destinate proiectelor legate de acest obiectiv.

În plus, acțiunea 4 „Memoria europeană activă” din cadrul programului „Europa pentru cetățeni”, care se referă la comemorarea victimelor regimului nazist și stalinist, are ca obiectiv „promovarea acțiunilor, a dezbaterilor și a reflecției în legătură cu cetățenia europeană și democrația, valorile comune, istoria și cultura comună” și „apropierea Europei de cetățenii săi prin promovarea valorilor și a realizărilor Europei, conservând în același timp memoria trecutului său”. Prin intermediul acțiunii 4 sunt finanțate în fiecare an aproximativ 50 de proiecte (81). În 2011, bugetul pentru această acțiune a fost de 1,7 milioane EUR, iar bugetul pentru 2012 este de 2,4 milioane EUR.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003216/12

to the Commission

Rareş-Lucian Niculescu (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Armed attack on a Jewish school in Toulouse (France)

Recently, an armed attack in front of a Jewish school in Toulouse (France), committed by an unknown assailant claimed the lives of four victimis, including three children.

Can the Commission indicate to the Parliament:

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2012)

The European Commission has repeatedly condemned all manifestations of anti-Semitism and is committed to fighting against them with all means available to it under the Treaties. As for concrete measures, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its replies to Written Questions E‐008195/2011, E‐006161/2011 and E‐000943/2011 (82).

Concerning EU funding to combat anti-Semitism, there are several financing programmes that can contribute to this end (83). The Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Programme has among its general objectives ‘to fight against racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism and to promote a better interfaith and intercultural understanding and improved tolerance throughout the European Union’. The current call for action grants, which has just closed, provides for an envelope of EUR 20 975 million, covering this priority besides others. The interim evaluation of the programme presented in 2011 concluded that in 2007-2009 50 % of the funds granted were dedicated to projects related to this objective.

In addition, Action 4 ‘Active European Remembrance’ of the Europe for Citizens Programme, which deals with commemorating the victims of Nazism and Stalinism, aims to foster ‘action, debate and reflection related to European citizenship and democracy, shared values, common history and culture’ and to bring ‘Europe closer to its citizens by promoting Europe’s values and achievements, while preserving the memory of its past’. Around 50 projects are financed through Action 4 every year (84). In 2011, the budget for this Action was EUR 1.7 million; the budget for 2012 is EUR 2.4 million.

(Versão portuguesa)

Pergunta com pedido de resposta escrita E-003218/12

à Comissão

Diogo Feio (PPE)

(26 de março de 2012)

Assunto: Potencial aumento dos impostos e adoção de quotas para vinhos importados

Notícias recentes dão conta de que, devido à pressão exercida por algumas associações de produtores nacionais, o governo brasileiro — nomeadamente, a Secretaria de Comércio Exterior do Ministério do Desenvolvimento, Indústria e Comércio Exterior — estuda neste momento a possibilidade de aumentar substancialmente, talvez mesmo duplicar, a carga fiscal que incide sobre vinhos importados e de estabelecer quotas para os produtos de cada país exportador. A ser adotada, esta medida penaliza gravemente os produtores e exportadores de vinhos europeus e implicará um retrocesso nos esforços entretanto desenvolvidos, tendentes a uma maior liberalização das trocas comerciais entre o Brasil e a União Europeia.

Assim, pergunto à Comissão:

Resposta dada por Dacian Cioloș em nome da Comissão

(4 de maio de 2012)

Os serviços pertinentes da Comissão estão a par da situação, tendo já reagido a nível técnico e político. A Comissão está a acompanhar todas as diligências legais do Brasil e prepara a contestação da motivação das medidas. Em ofício do Comissário responsável pela Agricultura e o Desenvolvimento Rural, de 15 de março, evocam‐se os compromissos assumidos pelas autoridades brasileiras nas reuniões do G20, nomeadamente no sentido de se absterem de adotar medidas protecionistas do comércio.

As exportações de vinho para o Brasil são um mercado fundamental para os produtores europeus. O mercado vitivinícola brasileiro está em franca expansão, com quase 250 milhões de litros vendidos em 2011, esperando‐se novas grandes oportunidades em resultado das negociações ACL com o Mercosul. Assim sendo, a UE, na qualidade de principal fornecedora das importações vínicas do Brasil, vai continuar a insistir no respeito dos compromissos do G20. Não houve ainda resposta ao ofício enviado pelo Comissário da Agricultura e do Desenvolvimento Rural.

Os serviços pertinentes da Comissão operam estreitamente entre si sobre esta questão, tendo programado várias reuniões de informação aos Estados-Membros e ao setor europeu sobre as medidas previstas.

O processo iniciou‐se oficialmente a 15 de março e a UE registou‐se oficialmente no sentido de ser parte interessada no acordo e de poder contra‐argumentar. Esta argumentação deverá incluir uma análise exaustiva e todos os dados pertinentes. Todavia, embora a UE partilhe inteiramente as preocupações do setor europeu e se proponha atuar em conformidade, a legalidade da ação não pode ser contestada.

Nesta fase, não foram adotadas medidas que possam afetar a produção ou as exportações europeias.A eventual aplicação de medidas de salvaguarda afetaria as exportações vínicas dos produtores europeus para o mercado brasileiro.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003218/12

to the Commission

Diogo Feio (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Wine imports: possible tax increase and imposition of quotas

It has recently been reported that, owing to pressure exerted by certain national producers’ associations, the Brazilian Government — specifically, the Secretariat for Foreign Trade in the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade — is currently examining the possibility of substantially increasing, perhaps even doubling, the tax burden on imported wines and of setting quotas for products from each exporting country. If adopted, this measure would seriously penalise producers and exporters of European wines and will be a step backwards in the efforts made to date to liberalise trade between Brazil and the European Union.

— Is the Commission aware of this potential tax increase? Does it not believe that European wines are already taxed very heavily by Brazil?

— Can it confirm that the Brazilian wine-producing sector is growing and has been coexisting alongside imported foreign wines, European wines included? What is the sector’s growth rate? Does the Commission consider it legitimate for a growing sector to adopt ‘safeguards’? Can it confirm that more than 70 % of the wine consumed in Brazil is home-produced?

— How in the Commission’s opinion are such measures likely to affect European production and exports?

— Does the Commission not believe that the imposition of protectionist measures, as well as having a major effect on European producers and exporters, reduces the incentive for improving the quality of Brazilian wine and will serve only to strengthen the market share of certain South American countries, which are apparently to be exempted from the tax increase and which already account for by far the highest proportion of Brazil’s wine imports?

— Has it approached the Brazilian authorities in this matter? If so, what response has it received? What steps has it taken or will it take in order to prevent the adoption of such measures or minimise their impact?

Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2012)

The Commission services concerned are well aware of the situation and actions have already been taken, both at technical and political level. The Commission is following all the legal steps of the procedure launched by Brazil by preparing a submission to contest the grounds of this investigation. A letter sent by the Member of the Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development on 15th March recalled Brazilian authorities' commitments taken in the G20 meetings, notably to refrain from taking trade protectionist measures.

Wine exports to Brazil are a key market for European producers. The Brazilian wine market is in clear expansion, with almost 250 million litres sold in 2011, and further important opportunities expected to result from the FTA under negotiation with Mercosur. The EU, as the main supplier for wine imports in Brazil, will therefore continue to insist that these G20 commitments be upheld. No response has been received so far to the letter sent by the Member of the Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Commission services concerned are working in close coordination in this issue and have scheduled several meetings in order to inform Member States and European industry on the actions already envisaged.

The investigation was officially launched on 15 March and the EU officially registered to be an interested party in the settlement and to present counter-arguments. Those counter arguments will include a full analysis and all relevant data. Nevertheless, while the EU fully shares the concerns of European industry and will act accordingly, the legality of launching this investigation cannot be contested.

At this stage no measure has been taken that could affect European production and exports. In the event that safeguard measures are implemented, these would certainly affect the import of wines into the Brazilian market for European producers.

(Versión española)

Pregunta con solicitud de respuesta escrita E-003219/12

a la Comisión

Santiago Fisas Ayxela (PPE)

(26 de marzo de 2012)

Asunto: Escuelas Europeas

Ante la inminente aprobación del presupuesto de las Escuelas Europeas para el año 2013, las asociaciones de padres de las EE nos han comunicado su preocupación por el hecho de que los costes del actual sistema de escolarización europeo deberían ser 12 millones más elevados que la cantidad contemplada en el proyecto presupuestario presentado por el Consejo Superior para su aprobación los próximos días 18 a 20 de abril.

Esta posibilidad está generando preocupación entre madres, padres y profesores de los alumnos de las EE ya que, teniendo en cuenta el aumento significativo de alumnos, las cantidades reflejadas en el proyecto de presupuesto llevarían irremediablemente a recortes que podrían poner en peligro la calidad de la enseñanza.

Como ya ha reconocido el Parlamento Europeo en su resolución P7_TA(2011)0402 sobre el sistema de las Escuelas Europeas, los recortes propuestos en los presupuestos de las EE constituyen una grave amenaza para la calidad de la educación y el buen funcionamiento de las mismas y, por consiguiente, se opone a cualquier recorte presupuestario.

¿Ha tenido en cuenta la Comisión en la elaboración del presupuesto de las EE las recomendaciones contenidas en la resolución aprobada por el PE? ¿Cómo justifica la Comisión esta mala planificación del presupuesto teniendo en cuenta que el sistema cuenta con aproximadamente 1 000 alumnos más?

Respuesta del Sr. Šefčovič en nombre de la Comisión

(4 de junio de 2012)

La contribución financiera de la UE a las Escuelas Europeas (EE) para 2012 es de 165,4 millones EUR. El importe previsto para 2013 en el proyecto de presupuesto para la contribución financiera de la UE a las EE es de 173,9 millones EUR, lo que representa un aumento del 5,14 % (8,5 millones EUR más) en comparación con 2012.

El presupuesto de las EE y la correspondiente contribución de la UE para 2013 se han analizado minuciosamente y se ajustan a las necesidades de las 14 EE en 2013. Esta variación se justifica principalmente por un aumento superior al esperado en la población de categoría 1 (850 alumnos más que en 2012), así como por un menor número de profesores en comisión de servicios y una disminución de los salarios nacionales en algunos Estados miembros, lo que repercute de manera directa en el aumento de la contribución financiera de la UE a las escuelas.

La dotación presupuestaria global de las escuelas, incluida la contribución financiera de la UE, fue aprobada por el Consejo Superior de las Escuelas Europeas en su reunión de abril. Sin embargo, la contribución financiera de la UE a las EE la aprobará de manera definitiva la autoridad presupuestaria de la UE a lo largo del año. La confirmación o modificación de la contribución de la UE por parte del Parlamento y el Consejo, sólo se conoce, por tanto, justo antes de que comience el ejercicio presupuestario en cuestión.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003219/12

to the Commission

Santiago Fisas Ayxela (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: European Schools

Ahead of the imminent approval of the European Schools budget for 2013, the European Schools’ Parents Associations have expressed disquiet because the cost figure for the current European Schools System should be EUR 12 million higher than the amount provided for in the draft budget submitted by the Board of Governors, which is to be approved on 18 to 20 April 2012.

This situation is causing concern among mothers, father and teachers of European Schools students, given that, owing to the significantly higher student numbers, the amounts entered in the draft budget would lead to irreparable cuts that could jeopardise teaching standards.

As Parliament has already recognised in its resolution P7_TA(2011)0402 on the European Schools System, the proposed cuts in the European Schools budgets constitute a serious threat to the quality of education and the proper functioning of the schools, and it is therefore totally opposed to budget cuts.

Did the Commission take into account the recommendations contained in the EP resolution when it drafted the European Schools budget? How can it justify this poor budgetary planning, bearing in mind that the system has to accommodate approximately 1 000 more students?

Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the Commission

(4 June 2012)

The EU financial contribution to the European schools (ES) for the current year 2012 is EUR 165.4 million. The amount provided in the 2013 draft budget for the EU financial contribution to the ES is EUR 173.9 million, representing an increase of 5.14 % (+ EUR 8.5 million) compared to 2012.

The ES budget and corresponding EU contribution for 2013 have been carefully analysed and correspond to the needs of the 14 ES in 2013. This variation is mainly justified by a higher increase than expected in the Category c population (+ 850 pupils compared with 2012). It is also due to less seconded teachers and to a decrease of national salaries in some Members states, which have a direct impact on the increase of the EU financial contribution to the schools.

The overall budget of the schools containing the EU financial contribution has been approved by the Board of Governors of the European Schools in its April meeting. However, the EU financial contribution to the ES will only be definitely approved later in the year by the EU budgetary authority. The confirmation or alteration by the Parliament and Council, of the EU contribution is thus only known just before the budget year in question starts.

(Versión española)

Pregunta con solicitud de respuesta escrita E-003220/12

a la Comisión

Ana Miranda (Verts/ALE)

(26 de marzo de 2012)

Asunto: Tarifas de la electricidad en el Estado español

El Gobierno central español viene de anunciar que subirá el precio de la electricidad para los consumidores. El Estado español es, según datos de Eurostat, el tercer Estado miembro (después de Malta y Chipre) donde es más cara la energía eléctrica. Los Estados miembros con una renta por cápita superior (Alemania, Francia, Reino Unido o Italia) tienen tarifas inferiores.

La denominación que se ha dado a esta situación se conoce como déficit tarifario. Este fenómeno se deriva de la liberalización de las operadoras eléctricas que el Estado español realizó en base a la Ley 54/1997 de 27 de noviembre del Sector Eléctrico como transposición de la Directiva 96/92/CE de 19 de diciembre de  1996 sobre normas comunes para el mercado interior de la electricidad. El origen del déficit es la diferencia entre los costes de generación, transporte y distribución reconocidos por el regulador y las tarifas minoristas que el gobierno fija para la mayor parte de los consumidores.

Es necesario que la Comisión Europea promueva el desarrollo de una normativa que obligue a prever situaciones como esta, así como también ofrecer soluciones mixtas que no hagan recaer este sobreprecio sobre el precio final que pagan los consumidores. En el marco de una situación económica como la actual, las consecuencias sociales de un aumento constante de las tarifas serían incalculables. Además, diversas organizaciones de consumidores del Estado miembro han denunciado esta situación, que afecta a la ciudadanía en general.

¿Tiene conocimiento la Comisión de esta situación?

¿Establecerá la Comisión medidas para que, tal y como se recoge en el artículo 38 de la Carta de los Derechos Fundamentales de la Unión Europea, se protejan los intereses de los consumidores?

Respuesta del Sr. Oettinger en nombre de la Comisión

(10 de mayo de 2012)

La Comisión está al corriente de la reciente decisión del Gobierno español de aumentar el precio de la electricidad en un 6 %, en el marco de las reformas presupuestarias destinadas a mejorar la situación económica española. La Comisión también ha tomado nota de la reciente aprobación en España de una ley por la que se incorpora al ordenamiento jurídico nacional la legislación de la UE sobre el mercado interior de la electricidad (la denominada Directiva sobre electricidad del tercer paquete energético) (85). Esta legislación sectorial de la UE reconoce que el mercado de la energía necesita normas que garanticen la prestación de servicios públicos y protejan a los clientes vulnerables (artículo 3 de la Directiva sobre electricidad).

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003220/12

to the Commission

Ana Miranda (Verts/ALE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Electricity tariffs in Spain

The Spanish central Government has recently announced its intention of increasing the price of electricity for consumers. According to Eurostat figures, Spain is the Member State with the third highest electricity prices (following Malta and Cyprus). Member States with a higher per capita income (Germany, France, the United Kingdom or Italy) have lower tariffs.

This situation, known as a tariff deficit, is a result of the liberalisation of electricity providers carried out by the Spanish Government under Law 54/1997 of 27 November on the Electricity Sector, transposing Directive 96/92/EC of 19 December 1996 concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity. The deficit derives from the difference between the production, transport and distribution costs recognised by the regulator and the retail prices set by the government for most consumers.

The European Commission should promote legislation ensuring that situations such as this one are provided for and offering a variety of solutions to prevent this surcharge on the final price paid by consumers. In the context of the current economic situation, the social consequences of a constant increase in tariffs would be unthinkable. Furthermore, various consumer organisations in the Member State have criticised this situation which affects the population in general.

Is the Commission aware of this situation?

Will the Commission draw up measures to ensure that, in accordance with Article 38 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the interests of consumers are protected?

Answer given by Mr Oettinger on behalf of the Commission

(10 May 2012)

The Commission is aware of the recent decision of the Spanish Government to increase the price of electricity by 6 % as part of the state budget reforms aiming to improve Spain's fiscal situation. The Commission also took note of the recent adoption of a law in Spain transposing European legislation on the internal electricity market (the so-called Electricity Directive of the Third Package) (86). This sector-specific EU legislation recognises that the energy market requires rules to ensure the provision of public services and to protect vulnerable customers (Article 3 of the Electricity Directive).

(Deutsche Fassung)

Anfrage zur schriftlichen Beantwortung E-003222/12

an den Rat

Andreas Mölzer (NI)

(26. März 2012)

Betrifft: Geplanter Frühwarnmechanismus im Schengen-Raum

Wegen der steigenden Anzahl illegaler Migranten in der EU steigt der Druck auf Griechenland. Sieben EU-Staaten haben ein Forderungspaket mit sechs Punkten und 32 Einzelmaßnahmen beschlossen. Das teilten die Innenminister Österreichs und Deutschlands — Johanna Mikl-Leitner und Hans-Peter Friedrich — vor Beginn des letzten EU-Ministerrats in Brüssel mit. Zu den sieben Ländern gehören außerdem noch Frankreich, Belgien, Großbritannien, die Niederlande und Schweden. Friedrich sprach sich für ein Rücknahmeabkommen zwischen der Türkei und der EU aus, wandte sich aber gegen eine „generelle Visa-Erleichterung“ für Ankara. Die EU-Innenminister einigten sich bei dem Treffen am Donnerstag auf eine Art Frühwarnmechanismus im Schengen-Raum. So soll, um Versäumnissen oder problematischen Entwicklungen zeitgerecht vorbeugen zu können, halbjährlich eine Evaluation der Situation erfolgen.

„Rückübernahmeabkommen“ mit der Türkei aussehen?

Antwort

(6. Juni 2012)

Entsprechend dem Beschluss des Exekutivausschusses vom 16. September 1998 bezüglich der Errichtung des Ständigen Ausschusses Schengener Durchführungsübereinkommen (87) bewertet der Rat regelmäßig die Einhaltung des Schengen-Besitzstands durch die Schengen‐Staaten und gibt Emp‐fehlungen darüber ab, wie mit Mängeln umzugehen ist, wo immer diese aufgedeckt werden. In diesem Zusammenhang haben Bewertungsausschüsse im Jahre 2010 auch die ordnungsgemäße Um‐setzung des Schengen-Besitzstands an den Luft-, Land‐ und Seegrenzen Griechenlands bewertet und aufgrund ihrer Ergebnisse Verbesserungsvorschläge formuliert. Der Rat hat infolge der Bewer‐tung Empfehlungen angenommen; als Reaktion hierauf hat Griechenland im November 2010 einen nationalen Aktionsplan „Griechenland — Schengen“ erstellt und seitdem den zuständigen Ratsgre‐mien regelmäßig über die erzielten Fortschritte berichtet; diese Gremien überwachen die Umset‐zung zudem durch Missionen vor Ort.

Griechenland hat ferner einen nationalen Aktionsplan zur Asylreform und zur Migrationsbewälti‐gung ausgearbeitet, den es derzeit umsetzt. Der Rat beobachtet kontinuierlich die Umsetzung so‐wohl des „Griechenland — Schengen“ — als auch des weiteren nationalen Aktionsplans. Die im Rah‐men beider Pläne erzielten Fortschritte wurden vom Rat (Justiz und Inneres) zuletzt auf seinen Tagungen vom 8. März (88) und vom 26./27. April 2012 (89) geprüft.

In Bezug auf weitere noch zu ergreifende Maßnahmen möchte der Rat den Herrn Abgeordneten auf Nummer 22 der Schlussfolgerungen des Europäischen Rates vom 23./24. Juni 2011 hinweisen, in denen dieser (90) die Einführung eines Mechanismus forderte, „ der — ohne das Prinzip des freien Per‐sonenverkehrs zu beeinträchtigen — unter außergewöhnlichen Umständen greifen soll, in denen die Schengen-Zusammenarbeit insgesamt gefährdet ist; er sollte eine Reihe von Maßnahmen umfassen, die schrittweise, differenziert und koordiniert angewandt werden, um einen Mitgliedstaat zu unter‐stützen, dessen Außengrenzen einem hohen Druck ausgesetzt sind “ , und „ als allerletzte Möglich‐keit “ könnte er „ eine Schutzklausel (…) “ umfassen, „ die es ermöglicht, ausnahmsweise eine Wie‐dereinführung von Binnengrenzkontrollen in wahrhaft kritischen Situationen zuzulassen, in denen ein Mitgliedstaat nicht mehr in der Lage ist, seine Verpflichtungen gemäß den Schengen-Vor‐schriften zu erfüllen “ .

Der Rat und das Parlament prüfen derzeit zwei Gesetzgebungsvorschläge, die die Kommission am 16. September 2011 als Antwort auf dieses Ersuchen vorgelegt hat, d. h. einen geänderten Vorschlag für eine Verordnung des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates zur Einführung eines Evaluie‐rungs‐ und Überwachungsmechanismus für die Überprüfung der Anwendung des Schengen-Besitz‐stands (91) und einen Vorschlag für eine Verordnung des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates zur Änderung der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 562/2006 zwecks Festlegung einer gemeinsamen Regelung für die vorübergehende Wiedereinführung von Kontrollen an den Binnengrenzen unter außergewöhn‐lichen Umständen (92).

Der Rat hat mehrfach betont, wie wichtig es ist, ein Rückübernahmeabkommen mit der Türkei abzuschließen (93). Die Verhandlungen über ein derartiges Abkommen wurden von der Kommission 2011 zu Ende gebracht, das Abkommen ist jedoch noch nicht von der EU und der Türkei unter‐zeich‐net worden. Das Europäische Parlament wird im Anschluss an die Unterzeichnung des Abkom‐mens gemäß Artikel 218 AEUV um seine Zustimmung ersucht werden. Der Rat hat den Sachstand in Bezug auf Rückübernahmeabkommen zwischen der EU und Drittländern mit besonde‐rem Schwerpunkt auf der Türkei auf seiner Tagung vom 26./27. April 2012 erörtert. Der dänische Vorsitz hat die Absicht, zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt diesbezügliche Schlussfolgerungen des Rates zur Annahme vorzulegen (94).

Der Rat hat Mandate angenommen, mit denen er die Kommission ermächtigt, Rückübernahme‐abkommen zwischen der EU und Algerien (95), Armenien (96), Aserbaidschan (97), Belarus (98), Kap Verde (99), China (100) und Marokko (101) auszuhandeln.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003222/12

to the Council

Andreas Mölzer (NI)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Planned early warning mechanism in the Schengen Area

Pressure is mounting on Greece due to the increasing number of illegal migrants in the EU. Seven EU Member States have agreed a six-point package of demands, containing 32 individual measures. This was announced by the Austrian and German Ministers for the Interior, Johanna Mikl-Leitner and Hans-Peter Friedrich, before the opening of the last meeting of the EU Council of Ministers in Brussels. The seven Member States also include France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Sweden. Mr Friedrich spoke in favour of a readmission agreement between Turkey and the EU, but was against a ‘general easing of visa requirements’ for Ankara. At Thursday’s meeting, the EU Ministers for the Interior agreed to a kind of early warning mechanism in the Schengen Area. The plan was to evaluate the situation on a six-monthly basis, so as to be able to take prompt action to prevent irregularities or problematic developments.

‘readmission agreement’ with Turkey entail?

Reply

(6 June 2012)

The Council regularly evaluates Schengen Member States' compliance with the Schengen acquis in accordance with the decision of the Executive Committee of 16 September 1998 setting up a Standing Committee on the evaluation and implementation of Schengen (102), and makes recommendations on how to deal with shortcomings wherever these are detected. In this framework, evaluation committees also assessed in 2010 the proper implementation of the Schengen acquis at Greece's air, land and sea borders and made, based on their findings, recommendations for improvements. In response to these recommendations adopted by the Council as a follow-up to the evaluation, Greece drew up a National Action Plan ‘Greece — Schengen’ in November 2010 and has since then reported regularly on the progress achieved to the competent bodies in the Council, which are also monitoring the implementation through on-site missions.

Greece, in addition, has prepared and is implementing a National Action Plan on Asylum Reform and Migration Management. The Council is keeping the implementation of both the ‘Greece — Schengen’ and the National Action Plan under review. The progress being made under both plans was considered by the Justice and Home Affairs Council most recently at its meetings on 8 March (103) and 26-27 April 2012 (104).

As regards further measures to be taken, the Council would like to draw the Honourable Member's attention to point 22 of the European Council conclusions of 23‐ 24 June 2011 in which it (105) called for the introduction of a mechanism ‘to respond to exceptional circumstances putting the overall functioning of Schengen cooperation at risk, without jeopardising the principle of free movement of persons [which] should comprise a series of measures to be applied in a gradual, differentiated and coordinated manner in order to assist a Member State facing heavy pressure at the external borders ’ and which ‘as a very last resort ’ could include ‘a safeguard clause (…) to allow the exceptional reintroduction of internal border controls in a truly critical situation where a Member State is no longer able to comply with its obligations under the Schengen rules ’.

The Council and the Parliament are currently examining two legislative proposals presented by the Commission on 16 September 2011 in response to this request, i.e. an amended proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of an evaluation and monitoring mechanism to verify the application of the Schengen acquis (106) and a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 562/2006 in order to provide for common rules on the temporary reintroduction of border control at internal borders in exceptional circumstances (107).

The Council has on a number of occasions stressed the importance of concluding a readmission agreement with Turkey (108). Negotiations on such an agreement were finalised by the Commission in 2011 but the agreement has yet to be signed by the EU and the Turkish side. The European Parliament will be requested to give its consent following signature of the agreement in accordance with Article 218 of the TFEU. The Council discussed the state of play of readmission agreements between the EU and third countries with a particular focus on Turkey at its meeting on 26 and 27 April 2012. It is the intention of the Danish presidency to adopt Council conclusions on the matter at a later stage (109).

The Council has adopted mandates for the purpose of authorising the Commission to negotiate readmission agreements between the EU and Algeria (110), Armenia (111), Azerbaijan (112), Belarus (113), Cape Verde (114), China (115) and Morocco (116).

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003223/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Georgios Papastamkos (PPE)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Πολιτική της συνοχής — κατηγοριοποίηση περιφερειών

Η πρόταση κανονισμού του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και του Συμβουλίου (COM(2011)0615), η οποία περιλαμβάνει, μεταξύ άλλων, γενικές διατάξεις σχετικά με την αποστολή και τους σκοπούς της πολιτικής για τη συνοχή, κατατάσσει τις ευρωπαϊκές περιφέρειες σε τρεις κατηγορίες:

Επ' αφορμή της ως άνω κατηγοριοποίησης ερωτάται η Επιτροπή:

Απάντηση του κ. Hahn εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(8 Μαΐου 2012)

 % για τις περιφέρειες σε μετάβαση καλύπτει τις περισσότερες από τις πρώην περιφέρειες σύγκλισης. Συμπεριλαμβάνοντας τις περιφέρειες με παρόμοιο κατά κεφαλή ΑΕγχΠ σε σύγκριση με τις περιφέρειες αυτές, η Επιτροπή προτείνει να εξασφαλιστεί ίση μεταχείριση και για τις δύο σειρές περιφερειών.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003223/12

to the Commission

Georgios Papastamkos (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Cohesion policy — Regional categorisation

The proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (COM(2011) 0615) that includes general provisions on the purpose and scope of cohesion policy places European regions into three categories:

With regard to the above classifications, will the Commission say:

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2012)

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003225/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Georgios Papastamkos (PPE)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Πολιτική της συνοχής και αιρεσιμότητα μακροοικονομικών όρων

Με το άρθρο 10 της πρότασης κανονισμού του Ευρωπαϊκού Κοινοβουλίου και του Συμβουλίου(COM(2011)0615), η οποία περιλαμβάνει, μεταξύ άλλων, γενικές διατάξεις σχετικά με την αποστολή και τους σκοπούς της πολιτικής για τη συνοχή, προβλέπεται για πρώτη φορά η εξάρτηση της συνέχισης καταβολής των πόρων των Διαρθρωτικών Ταμείων από την τήρηση των μακροοικονομικών όρων του Συμφώνου Σταθερότητας και Ανάπτυξης. Η εν λόγω ρύθμιση της αιρεσιμότητας από μακροοικονομικούς όρους εισάγει ένα σύστημα ποινών σε βάρος των περιφερειών για λάθη και παραλείψεις των αρμόδιων αρχών σε κεντρικό επίπεδο διακυβέρνησης.

Ερωτάται η Επιτροπή:

Θεωρεί ότι είναι θεμιτό η μη τήρηση των μακροοικονομικών υποχρεώσεων να έχει επιπτώσεις στην εκταμίευση των πόρων συνοχής, δεδομένου ότι σε μια χώρα που υφίσταται ήδη τις κοινωνικές συνέπειες της οικονομικής κρίσης τέτοιου είδους κυρώσεις τροφοδοτούν περαιτέρω τον φαύλο κύκλο της ύφεσης; Επιπροσθέτως, δεν θεωρεί ότι οι αυστηρές κυρώσεις που προβλέπονται στο πλαίσιο της οικονομικής διακυβέρνησης της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης, σε περίπτωση μη τήρησης των τεθειμένων μακροοικονομικών όρων, αποτελούν επαρκές μέτρο για το σκοπό αυτό; Ποιά είναι η σκοπιμότητα της εισαγωγής επιπρόσθετων οικονομικών κυρώσεων και οι οποίες αφορούν αποκλειστικά στις χώρες της συνοχής;

Απάντηση του κ. Hahn εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(8 Μαΐου 2012)

Η δημιουργία στενότερων δεσμών μεταξύ των ταμείων του κοινού στρατηγικού πλαισίου (ΚΠΣ) και της οικονομικής διακυβέρνησης της Ένωσης θα εξασφαλίσει ότι η αποτελεσματικότητα των δαπανών στο πλαίσιο των ταμείων του ΚΠΣ ερείζεται σε υγιείς οικονομικές πολιτικές. Συνεπάγεται επίσης ότι τα ταμεία του ΚΠΣ θα έχουν τη δυνατότητα, εάν χρειαστεί, να επαναπροσανατολιστούν για να αντιμετωπιστούν τα οικονομικά προβλήματα μιας χώρας.

Ο μηχανισμός που προτείνεται βασίζεται στην ενισχυμένη συνεργασία και τον διάλογο μεταξύ της Επιτροπής και των κρατών μελών, όταν προκύπτουν συγκεκριμένα οικονομικά προβλήματα. Είναι ισορροπημένος και έχει σταδιακό χαρακτήρα. Θα δώσει αρκετό χρόνο στα κράτη μέλη να εφαρμόσουν τις απαραίτητες αλλαγές που συνδέονται άμεσα με τους τομείς παρέμβασης της πολιτικής συνοχής και δεν θα υπάρξουν δημοσιονομικές επιπτώσεις σε περίπτωση συνεργασίας και κατάλληλης δράσης από αυτά.

Σκοπός του είναι να εξασφαλίσει τη συμμετοχή των κρατών μελών σε μια διεξοδική εξέταση στρατηγικών και προγραμμάτων, προκειμένου να εντοπίσουν τα σημεία συμφόρησης και να προβούν στις αναγκαίες προσαρμογές. Εάν πρέπει να γίνουν αναστολές, αυτές θα είναι αναλογικές και θα λαμβάνουν υπόψη τις οικονομικές και κοινωνικές συνθήκες που επικρατούν σε κάθε κράτος μέλος.

Οι χώρες που διέρχονται οικονομικές δυσκολίες, οι οποίες λαμβάνουν βοήθεια, μπορούν επίσης να ζητούν αύξηση του ποσοστού συγχρηματοδότησης της ΕΕ (κατά 10 ποσοστιαίες μονάδες δηλ. έως 95 %), η οποία θα επιτρέψει επίσης την ταχεία υλοποίηση των επενδύσεων που συμβάλλουν στην ανάπτυξη και των διαρθρωτικών μεταρρυθμίσεων.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003225/12

to the Commission

Georgios Papastamkos (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Cohesion policy and macro-fiscal conditionality

The proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (COM(2011) 0615) includes general provisions on the purpose and scope of the cohesion policy. Article 10 provides, for the first time, that the continued release of Structural Funds’ resources shall be dependent on fulfilling the macro-fiscal terms of the Stability and Growth Pact. The rules on macro-fiscal conditionality introduce a system of penalties for the regions for errors and omissions by the competent authorities at the central level of government.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

Does it think that it is legitimate that the failure to comply with macro-fiscal obligations should have an impact on the release of Cohesion Fund resources, given that, in a country already suffering from the social consequences of the economic crisis, this kind of penalty will cause a further downturn? In addition, does it not think that the harsh penalties provided for within the framework of the economic governance of the European Union for failure to adhere to the macro-fiscal conditions imposed are an adequate measure to achieve this goal? What is the point of introducing additional financial penalties which apply only to Cohesion Fund countries?

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2012)

Establishing a closer link between the Common Strategic Framework (CSF) Funds and the economic governance of the Union will ensure that the effectiveness of expenditure under the CSF Funds is underpinned by sound economic policies. It also means that the CSF Funds can, if necessary, be redirected to address the economic problems a country is facing.

The mechanism proposed is based on reinforced cooperation and dialogue between the Commission and Member States when specific economic problems arise. It is balanced and gradual. It will allow sufficient time for the Member State to implement necessary changes which are directly related to the areas of intervention of cohesion policy and there will be no financial consequences in case of cooperation and adequate action by the Member State.

The intention is to engage with Member States in a thorough examination of strategies and programmes in order to identify where bottlenecks lie and make the necessary adjustments. If suspensions are to be applied they shall be proportionate and take into account the economic and social circumstances in the Member State.

Countries in economic difficulties, which are receiving assistance, may also request an increase of the EU co-financing rate (by 10 percentage points i.e. up to 95 %) which would also allow more rapid implementation of growth-enhancing investments and structural reforms.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003226/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Georgios Papastamkos (PPE)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Συνάρτηση της πολιτικής της συνοχής με την πρωτοβουλία «Ευρώπη 2020»

₫λιγότερο αναπτυγμένες περιφέρειες₻, των οποίων σημαντικό μέρος, ιδίως στα νέα κράτη μέλη, δεν διαθέτει τις αναγκαίες υποδομές, θα είναι σε θέση να επωφεληθούν πλήρως και επί ίσοις όροις σε σχέση με τις ₫περισσότερο αναπτυγμένες περιφέρειες₻ από τα κονδύλια που διατίθενται για την προώθηση της ανταγωνιστικότητας και της καινοτομίας μέσω της αναπτυξιακής πρωτοβουλίας ₫Ευρώπη 2020₻;

₫Ευρώπης 2020₻;

Απάντηση του κ. Hahn εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(16 Μαΐου 2012)

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003226/12

to the Commission

Georgios Papastamkos (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Combination of cohesion policy with the Europe 2020 initiative

‘less developed regions’, a significant number of which do not possess the required infrastructure, especially in new Member States, will be in a position to benefit fully and on equal terms compared to the ‘more developed regions’ from the funds made available to promote competitiveness and innovation through the Europe 2020 growth initiative?

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2012)

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003227/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Konstantinos Poupakis (PPE)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Αρχές και ουσία του κοινωνικού διαλόγου

Σε απάντησή του ο Επίτροπος κ. Rehn στην ερώτηση με αριθμό E-000889/2012 αναφορικά με την ενίσχυση της ανταγωνιστικότητας και το μισθολογικό κόστος, σημειώνει μεταξύ άλλων: ₫ Η ελληνική κυβέρνηση προώθησε τον διάλογο μεταξύ των κοινωνικών εταίρων, με στόχο την επίτευξη συμφωνίας για την στήριξη της ανταγωνιστικότητας, της ανάπτυξης και της απασχόλησης. Η έκβαση του διαλόγου αυτού δεν ήταν ικανοποιητική όσον αφορά τη διαμόρφωση μιας ελπιδοφόρας στρατηγικής, και κατόπιν τούτου, η κυβέρνηση συμφώνησε στην ανάληψη δράσης ώστε να συμβάλει στην επίτευξη των συγκεκριμένων στόχων, συμπεριλαμβανομένης της θέσπισης νομοθεσίας σχετικά με τα επίπεδα των μισθών που καθορίζονται στην ΕΓΣΣΕ· στη μεταρρύθμιση του συστήματος καθορισμού των μισθών και στην προώθηση της επαναδιαπραγμάτευσης των συλλογικών συμβάσεων· στην αύξηση της δυναμικής των πρόσφατων μεταρρυθμίσεων στην αγορά εργασίας· στην αντιμετώπιση θεμάτων κληρονομιάς σε πρώην κρατικές επιχειρήσεις· στη μείωση του μη μισθολογικού κόστους εργασίας και στην καταπολέμηση της αδήλωτης εργασίας και εισφοροδιαφυγής ₻ . Πιστεύοντας ότι τα αποτελέσματα ενός ελεύθερου κοινωνικού διαλόγου δεν μπορεί να χαρακτηρίζονται ικανοποιητικά ή μη εκτός και αν υπάρχει σαφής επιθυμία για την έκβασή του, ερωτάται η Επιτροπή:

Απάντηση του κ. Rehn εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(23 Μαΐου 2012)

Η Επιτροπή παραπέμπει το Αξιότιμο Μέλος του Κοινοβουλίου στην απάντηση που έχει δώσει σε προηγούμενη πανομοιότυπη ερώτηση με αριθμό E-001770/2012.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003227/12

to the Commission

Konstantinos Poupakis (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Principles and substance of social dialogue

In answer to Question E‐000889/2012 on wage costs and boosting competitiveness, Commissioner Rehn indicated: ‘The Greek Government promoted dialogue between social partners with a view to reaching an agreement to support competitiveness, growth and employment. The outcome of that dialogue was not satisfactory in delivering a promising strategy and the Government therefore agreed to take action to help achieve those objectives, including legislating on the wage levels set in the NGCA; reforming the wage setting system and fostering renegotiation of collective agreements; raising the potential of recent labour market reforms; tackling legacy issues in former state-owned enterprises; reducing non-wage labour costs and fighting undeclared work and social contribution evasion.’ Considering that the results of an open social dialogue are bound to be inadequate unless there is a clear appetite for an outcome, will the Commission answer the following:

Answer given by Mr Rehn on behalf of the Commission

(23 May 2012)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member of Parliament to its answer to a previous identical Question E‐001770/2012.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003228/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Charalampos Angourakis (GUE/NGL)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Εγκληματική διαχείριση των αποβλήτων στην Περιφέρεια Αττικής

Εκατοντάδες εργαζόμενοι στους Οργανισμούς Τοπικής Αυτοδιοίκησης Αττικής κατέβηκαν αυτές τις μέρες σε απεργία διαμαρτυρόμενοι για την παραχώρηση, μέσω σύμπραξης Δημοσίου και Ιδιωτικού Τομέα (ΣΔΙΤ), τεσσάρων μονάδων επεξεργασίας απορριμμάτων κόστους κατασκευής 450 έως 500 εκατ. ευρώ και 3,5 δισ. ευρώ για την 25ετή λειτουργία τους. Η όλη επένδυση θα χρηματοδοτηθεί από το πενιχρό εισόδημα της λαϊκής οικογένειας που συνεχώς συρρικνώνεται, σαν συνέπεια της πολιτικής της συγκυβέρνησης ΠΑΣΟΚ-ΝΔ και των επιλογών της Τρόικας.

Με το έργο αυτό διαιωνίζεται η διοχέτευση του 85 %-90 % των απορριμμάτων της Αττικής για άλλα 30 χρόνια στο βεβαρημένο Θριάσιο Πεδίο. Επιβάλλεται ένα μείγμα πανάκριβων τεχνολογιών, μαζί και αναποτελεσματικών, με κορμό τη μεγιστοποίηση των σύμμεικτων απορριμμάτων (1 655 000 τόνοι τον χρόνο) και την επικίνδυνη για το περιβάλλον και την υγεία αποτέφρωση των αποβλήτων.

Οι ανησυχίες ενισχύονται από τη μονοπώληση του κλάδου, όπως φαίνεται από τα στοιχεία της έκθεσης (2011/2038(ΙΝΙ)), από τέσσερις εταιρίες: Onyx (Veolia), Sita (Σουέζ), Remondis και FCC, οι οποίες είναι παρούσες στα 2/3 των κρατών μελών της ΕΕ και έχουν αναλάβει το 60 % της διαχείρισης των οικιακών αποβλήτων και το 75 % αυτών που παράγονται από επιχειρήσεις.

Ποια είναι η τοποθέτηση της Ευρωπαϊκής Επιτροπής στα δίκαια αιτήματα των απεργών εργαζομένων στους ΟΤΑ Αττικής, στην επιλογή ακατάλληλων τεχνολογιών επεξεργασίας απορριμμάτων υψηλού κόστους, με δυσβάστακτα ανταποδοτικά τέλη και με σοβαρές απειλές για το περιβάλλον και τη δημόσια υγεία;

Απάντηση του κ. Potočnik εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(25 Μαΐου 2012)

Η Ελλάδα είναι ένα από τα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ στα οποία πρέπει επειγόντως να δημιουργηθούν υποδομές διαχείρισης των αποβλήτων, ιδίως όσον αφορά τη διαχείριση των αστικών απορριμμάτων, προκειμένου να μειωθεί το ποσοστό υγειονομικής ταφής και να αυξηθεί η ανάκτηση αποβλήτων και η ανακύκλωση. Το 2010, στην Ελλάδα, μόνο το 18 % των αστικών απορριμμάτων ανακυκλώθηκε και λιπασματοποιήθηκε, ενώ το 82 % των αποβλήτων κατέληξε σε χώρους υγειονομικής ταφής.

Το ζήτημα των ιδιωτικών ή δημόσιων συστημάτων διαχείρισης των αποβλήτων αποτελεί αρμοδιότητα των εθνικών αρχών και δεν ρυθμίζεται σε επίπεδο ΕΕ. Η ιδιωτικοποίηση των υπηρεσιών στον τομέα της διαχείρισης των αποβλήτων δεν απαγορεύεται από τη νομοθεσία της ΕΕ.

Όσον αφορά την προτεινόμενη τεχνολογία και τις σχετικές εγκαταστάσεις (π.χ. αποτεφρωτήρες για την Περιφέρεια Αττικής), είναι σημαντικό να επισημανθεί ότι οι εγκαταστάσεις παραγωγής ενέργειας από απόβλητα κατατάσσονται σε υψηλότερη θέση στην ιεράρχηση των αποβλήτων σε σύγκριση με τη διάθεση με υγειονομική ταφή, η οποία αποτελεί παραδοσιακά την επικρατέστερη επιλογή στη συγκεκριμένη περιφέρεια. Οι εν λόγω εγκαταστάσεις πρέπει να τηρούν τις απαιτήσεις που καθορίζονται στην οδηγία για την αποτέφρωση των αποβλήτων (2000/76/ΕΚ) (119), της οποίας ειδικός σκοπός είναι η πρόληψη δυσμενών επιπτώσεων στην υγεία του ανθρώπου και στο περιβάλλον. Βάσει της οδηγίας-πλαισίου για τα απόβλητα (2008/98/ΕΚ) (120), τα κράτη μέλη καλούνται να λάβουν μέτρα για να προωθήσουν τους τρόπους διαχείρισης των αποβλήτων που θα έχουν τα καλύτερα συνολικά περιβαλλοντικά αποτελέσματα. Πρέπει να σημειωθεί ότι η πρόληψη της δημιουργίας αποβλήτων, η επαναχρησιμοποίηση, η ανακύκλωση και η λιπασματοποίηση θεωρούνται όλες προτιμότερες από την αποτέφρωση και την υγειονομική ταφή, σύμφωνα με την ιεράρχηση που καθορίζεται στην οδηγία. Απόκλιση από την ιεράρχηση αυτή μπορεί να δικαιολογείται όσον αφορά συγκεκριμένες κατηγορίες αποβλήτων για λόγους τεχνικής σκοπιμότητας, οικονομικής βιωσιμότητας και περιβαλλοντικής προστασίας.

Βάσει των πληροφοριών που διαβίβασε το Αξιότιμο Μέλος του Κοινοβουλίου, η Επιτροπή δεν είναι σε θέση να διαπιστώσει παράβαση του ενωσιακού δικαίου.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003228/12

to the Commission

Charalampos Angourakis (GUE/NGL)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Criminal nature of waste management in the Attica region

Over the past few days, hundreds of Attica local government employees have been striking against the concession, through a Public Private Partnership (PPP), of four waste-processing units, the construction cost of which will be EUR 450 to EUR 500 million and EUR 3.5 billion over their 25‐year lives. The entire investment will be financed from the meagre income of ordinary families, which is constantly shrinking as a result of the policies imposed by the PASOK and New Democracy ruling coalition and the Troika’s decisions.

This project means that 85 %-90 % of Attica’s waste will continue to be disposed of in the already heavily polluted Thriasian Plain for another 30 years. A combination of very expensive and inefficient technologies is proposed, mainly for the maximisation of mixed waste (1 655 000 tonnes per year), plus waste incineration, which poses a threat to the environment and human health.

.Such concerns are reinforced by the monopolisation of the industry, as shown by the report data (2011/2038(ΙΝΙ)) of four companies: Onyx (Veolia), Sita (Suez), Remondis and FCC, which operate in two‐thirds of Member States and handle 60 % of household waste and 75 % of commercial waste.

What is the Commission’s position regarding the fair demands by the striking Attica local government employees and the choice of unsuitable, high-cost waste-processing technologies (with heavy reciprocal fees) — technologies that seriously threaten the environment and public health?

Answer given by Mr Potočnik on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 2012)

Greece is one of the EU Member States which urgently needs to build waste management infrastructure, particularly for the management of municipal waste, in order to reduce the landfilling rate and increase waste recovery and recycling. In 2010, Greece recycled and composted only 18 % of its municipal waste, while 82 % of the waste was landfilled.

The question of private or public waste management systems is the responsibility of national authorities and is not regulated at EU level. Privatisation of services in the field of waste management is not prohibited by EU legislation.

Regarding the proposed technology and installations (e.g. incinerators, for the region of Attica), it is relevant to point out that waste-to-energy installations rank higher in the waste hierarchy than disposal through landfilling which has been traditionally the predominant option in the Region. These installations have to respect the requirements laid down in the Waste Incineration Directive (2000/76/EC) (121), which is specifically aimed at preventing detrimental impacts on human health and the environment. Under the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC) (122) Member States are required to take measures to encourage the waste management options that deliver the best overall environmental outcome. It should be noted that waste prevention, re-use, recycling and composting are all considered preferable to incineration and landfill according to the waste hierarchy established by the directive. Departure from this hierarchy may be justified for specific waste streams due to technical feasibility, economic viability and environmental protection.

Based on the information provided by the Honourable Member the Commission cannot establish any contravention of the EC law.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003229/12

to the Commission

Linda McAvan (S&D)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Windows 8 and smartphones — concern that Microsoft is abusing its dominant market position

In response to previous written questions, the Commission has already commented on the concern expressed over the exclusivity conditions that Microsoft is imposing on smartphones and other devices which run on ARM processors, in return for certifying the devices as compatible with the Windows 8 operating system.

The Commission has said that it is difficult to assess whether or not there is a violation of EU competition rules before any computers running on the Windows 8 operating system have been placed on the market.

Since then, Microsoft has finalised its official ‘Windows 8 Hardware Certification Requirements’ for manufacturers. These terms and conditions explicitly disallow the disabling of the Secure Boot feature on devices which run on ARM hardware. Is the Commission aware of these new requirements, which would prevent users from switching to a different operating system?

Answer given by Mr Almunia on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 2012)

In order to establish a violation of the EU competition rules (Article 102 of the Treaty), and separately from the question of whether the behaviour at issue is abusive, it would need to be shown that Microsoft has a dominant position in the relevant market. To date, according to the information available to the Commission, Microsoft supports the ARM architecture mainly for its Windows mobile operating system. There are several mobile operating systems on the market, including the widespread Android operating system, which provide similar functionalities to Microsoft's. It therefore does not seem that Microsoft holds a dominant position on this market at this stage.

The Commission will continue to monitor Microsoft's business practices in order to ensure the full respect of EU competition rules.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003230/12

to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)

Linda McAvan (S&D)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: VP/HR — Gao Zhisheng and human rights in China

Many of my constituents have raised their concern about the safety and whereabouts of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has reportedly been imprisoned in China after having been missing for two years.

Is the High Representative aware of the case, and will she ensure that it is raised in discussions with the Chinese authorities?

Also, could the High Representative confirm whether a future round of the EU-China human rights dialogue has been organised?

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2012)

The HR/VP follows closely the situation of the lawyer Gao Zhisheng among other cases of human rights defenders of concern in China.

She has issued a statement on 22 December 2011 to condemn his sentencing again to 3 years in prison after he had been missing for 20 months. She called for Mr Gao’s immediate release and for information about his well-being and location.

On 4 January 2012, the HR/VP spokesperson issued a statement on her behalf expressing the EU's concerns regarding the situation of several human rights activists in China and mentioning the recent sentencing of human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng.

She has taken note that Mr Gao was allowed to meet with family in March 2012. Nevertheless, his situation has not improved and remains of grave concern to the EU.

Most recently, the EU raised Mr Gao's situation at the EU‐China human rights dialogue which took place in Brussels on 29 May 2012. The EU asked for information concerning the legal proceedings which had led to Mr Gao's re-imprisonment. The EU urged China to allow Mr Gao to maintain contact with his family as well as with his lawyer and friends while in prison, and to grant Mr Gao immediately the right to family reunification abroad should he express such a wish. In reply, the Chinese authorities noted that while Mr Gao had been released on parole, ‘political dissidents’ had smuggled his family out of China and he had started ‘fighting the Chinese government’. In the light of these violations of his parole terms, his suspended sentence was withdrawn in accordance with Chinese law.

The European Union will continue to follow these cases attentively and to raise its concerns with the Chinese authorities.

(българска версия)

Въпрос с искане за писмен отговор E-003231/12

до Комисията (Зам.-председател/върховeн представител)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Frieda Brepoels (Verts/ALE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), Oreste Rossi (EFD), Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL), Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE), Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), Ana Gomes (S&D), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL), Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE), Мария Неделчева (PPE) и Sergio Paolo Frances Silvestris (PPE)

(26 март 2012 г.)

Относно: VP/HR — Износ на военно оборудване от Обединеното кралство за Бахрейн

Наскоро оповестени официални данни разкриха, че, въпреки неотдавнашните жестоки репресии в Бахрейн, през последните месеци британското правителство е одобрило продажбата на военно оборудване на тази страна.

През февруари 2011 г., след огласяването на съмнителни продажби на оръжие на Бахрейн, Либия и Египет, британското правителство обяви, че ще преразгледа своята политика по лицензиране на износа на оръжие. В съответствие с това, през март 2011 г. Обединеното кралство обяви, че е отменило 122 лицензии, включително 44 за износ на военно оборудване за Бахрейн.

В случая с Бахрейн обаче Обединеното кралство бързо възобнови доставките си на оръжие. До юни 2011 г. търговията е възстановена до обичайното ниво, пренебрегвайки продължаващото в страната насилие срещу цивилни граждани и арестите на активисти.

Последните налични статистически данни, които обхващат третото тримесечие на 2011 г. и са публикувани на уебсайта на Департамента за бизнес, иновации и умения на Обединеното кралство, показват, че Обединеното кралство е издало лицензии за износ на военно оборудване за Бахрейн — включително заглушители, оптични мерници, пушки, военноморски оръжия и артилерийска технология — на стойност 1,3 милиона лири стерлинги.

Критериите от общата позиция на ЕС относно износа на оръжие изискват държавите членки да отказват издаването на лицензия „ако е налице явен риск предназначените за износ военни технологии или оборудване да бъдат използвани за вътрешни репресии“.

Предвид горепосоченото:

Отговор, даден от Заместник-председателs/Върховния представител г-жа Аштън от името на Комисията

(8 юни 2012 г.)

ЕС изготвя годишни доклади относно износа на оръжие, които са публикувани в „Официален вестник“ на ЕС. Последният, 13-и публикуван доклад, обхваща износа от държавите членки за 2010 г. Данните относно износа на оръжие на държавите—членки на ЕС, през 2011 г. все още не са на разположение. Те ще бъдат събрани през следващите месеци и публикувани в 14-иягодишен доклад до края на 2012 г.

Съгласно общата позиция (2008/944/ОВППС) за контрол на износа на военно оборудване решенията за това дали да се разреши или откаже износът на оръжие, остават изключителна национална отговорност на държавите членки. Лицензиите за износ на оръжия се разглеждат от държавите — членки на ЕС, трябва да бъдат оценени по отношение на осем критерия, определени в общата позиция и държавите членки трябва да вземат под внимание забраните, които евентуално са издадени от други държави членки за подобни сделки.

Въпросите, произтичащи от прилагането на общата позиция, се обсъждат на редовни срещи на работна група на Съвета „Износ на конвенционално оръжие“ (COARM). В работната група COARM държавите членки обменят становища и информация относно конкретни местоназначения с оглед постигане на по-голяма последователност на тяхната политика за износ на оръжие към въпросните местоназначения. Местоназначенията в Близкия изток и Северна Африка са били редовно обсъждани в работната група COARM след възникването на „Арабската пролет“.

(Versión española)

Pregunta con solicitud de respuesta escrita E-003231/12

a la Comisión (Vicepresidenta / Alta Representante)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Frieda Brepoels (Verts/ALE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), Oreste Rossi (EFD), Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL), Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE), Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), Ana Gomes (S&D), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL), Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE), Mariya Nedelcheva (PPE) y Sergio Paolo Frances Silvestris (PPE)

(26 de marzo de 2012)

Asunto: VP/HR — Exportaciones de material militar del Reino Unido a Bahréin

Las cifras oficiales recientemente publicadas han revelado que, a pesar de la reciente campaña de represión violenta en Bahréin, el Gobierno británico ha aprobado durante los últimos meses la venta de equipos militares a ese país.

En febrero de 2011, tras la denuncia de la cuestionable venta de armas a Bahréin, Libia y Egipto, el Gobierno británico anunció una revisión de su política de concesión de licencias para la exportación de armas. En consecuencia, en marzo de 2011 el Reino Unido declaró que había rechazado 122 licencias, incluidas 44 que cubrían exportaciones de material militar para Bahréin.

Sin embargo, en el caso de Bahréin, el Reino Unido reanudó rápidamente la transferencia de armas y para junio de 2011, las operaciones habían vuelto a la normalidad, ignorando la violencia continuada contra civiles y los arrestos de los activistas en el país.

Las últimas estadísticas disponibles, que abarcan el tercer trimestre de 2011 y que se han publicado en el sitio web del Departamento de Negocios, Innovación y Habilidades del Reino Unido, demuestran que el Reino Unido ha concedido licencias para exportaciones de material militar a Bahréin (como silenciadores de pistolas, visores de armas, rifles, artillería naval y tecnología para artillería) por valor de 1,3 millones de libras esterlinas.

Los criterios de la Posición Común de la UE respecto a las exportaciones de armas exigen a los Estados miembros que se nieguen a otorgar licencias si existe un ₫riesgo manifiesto₻ de que ₫la tecnología o el equipo militar que se vaya a exportar puedan utilizarse con fines de represión interna₻.

A la vista de lo anteriormente expuesto:

Respuesta de la Alta Representante y Vicepresidenta Ashton en nombre de la Comisión

(8 de junio de 2012)

La UE redacta informes anuales sobre las exportaciones de armas, que se publican en el Diario Oficial de la UE. El último hecho público, el decimotercero, se refiere a las exportaciones de los Estados miembros en 2010. Los datos relativos a 2011 aún no están disponibles; serán recopilados a lo largo de los próximos meses y se publicarán en el decimocuarto informe, a finales de 2012.

En virtud de la Posición Común 2008/944/PESC sobre el control de la exportación de equipo militar, las decisiones sobre la conveniencia de autorizar o denegar las exportaciones de armas siguen siendo una responsabilidad exclusivamente nacional de los Estados miembros. Las licencias de exportación de armas analizadas por los Estados miembros de la UE han de evaluarse en relación con ocho criterios establecidos en la Posición Común, y los Estados miembros deben tener en cuenta, en su caso, las denegaciones adoptadas por otros Estados miembros para transacciones similares.

Las cuestiones planteadas por la aplicación de la Posición Común se debaten en reuniones regulares del Grupo de Trabajo del Consejo sobre Exportación de Armas Convencionales (COARM), en donde los Estados miembros intercambian opiniones e información sobre los destinos específicos, con vistas a dotar de mayor coherencia a su política de exportación de armas a los destinos en cuestión. Los destinos en Oriente Medio y el norte de África han sido debatidos periódicamente en el COARM desde el comienzo de la ₫Primavera Árabe₻.

(Deutsche Fassung)

Anfrage zur schriftlichen Beantwortung E-003231/12

an die Kommission (Vizepräsidentin / Hohe Vertreterin)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Frieda Brepoels (Verts/ALE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), Oreste Rossi (EFD), Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL), Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE), Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), Ana Gomes (S&D), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL), Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE), Mariya Nedelcheva (PPE) und Sergio Paolo Frances Silvestris (PPE)

(26. März 2012)

Betrifft: VP/HR — Ausfuhr von Militärgütern aus dem Vereinigten Königreich nach Bahrain

Neu veröffentlichte offizielle Zahlen haben gezeigt, dass die britische Regierung trotz der jüngsten gewaltsamen Ereignisse in Bahrain in den vergangenen Monaten die Ausfuhr von Militärgütern in dieses Land genehmigt hat.

Im Februar 2011 kündigte die britische Regierung infolge der Aufdeckung fragwürdiger Waffenverkäufe nach Bahrain, Libyen und Ägypten eine Überprüfung ihrer Genehmigungspolitik bei Waffenausfuhren an. Im März 2011 erklärte das Vereinigte Königreich dementsprechend, dass es 122 Genehmigungen widerrufen hat. 44 davon betrafen Ausfuhren von Militärgütern nach Bahrain.

Im Falle von Bahrain nahm das Vereinigte Königreich seine Waffenlieferungen jedoch schnell wieder auf. Bereits im Juni 2011 wurde wieder so vorgegangen wie vorher, und die anhaltende Gewalt gegen die Zivilbevölkerung und die Inhaftierungen von Aktivisten im Land wurden ignoriert.

Die aktuellen Statistiken, die sich auf das dritte Quartal 2011 beziehen und auf der Website des britischen Ministeriums für Unternehmen, Innovation und berufliche Weiterbildung veröffentlicht wurden, zeigen, dass das Vereinigte Königreich die Ausfuhr von Militärgütern nach Bahrain — einschließlich Waffenschalldämpfern, Waffensichtgeräten, Gewehren, Marinegeschützen und Artillerietechnik — im Wert von 1,3 Mio. GBP genehmigt hat.

Nach den Kriterien des Gemeinsamen Standpunkts der EU zu Waffenausfuhren müssen die Mitgliedstaaten eine Genehmigung verweigern, „wenn eindeutig das Risiko besteht, dass die Militärtechnologie oder die Militärgüter, die zur Ausfuhr bestimmt sind, zur internen Repression benutzt werden könnten“.

In Anbetracht der vorstehenden Ausführungen:

Antwort von Frau Catherine Ashton — Hohe Vertreterin/Vizepräsidentin im Namen der Kommission

(8. Juni 2012)

Die EU legt Jahresberichte über Waffenausfuhren vor, die im EU‐Amtsblatt veröffentlicht werden. Der zuletzt veröffentlichte 13. Bericht betrifft die Ausfuhren aus den EU-Mitgliedstaaten im Jahr 2010. Die Daten zu den Waffenausfuhren der Mitgliedstaaten im Jahr 2011 liegen noch nicht vor. Sie werden in den nächsten Monaten erhoben und Ende 2012 im 14. Jahresbericht veröffentlicht.

Nach dem Gemeinsamen Standpunkt 2008/944/GASP betreffend gemeinsame Regeln für die Kontrolle der Ausfuhr von Militärtechnologie und Militärgütern liegt die Zuständigkeit für die Genehmigung oder Verweigerung von Waffenausfuhren ausschließlich bei dem betreffenden Mitgliedstaat. Die Mitgliedstaaten müssen Lizenzen für die Waffenausfuhr anhand der acht Kriterien überprüfen, die in dem Gemeinsamen Standpunkt festgelegt sind, und dabei mögliche Verweigerungen berücksichtigen, die andere Mitgliedstaaten für gleichartige Transaktionen ausgesprochen haben.

Fragen zur Umsetzung des Gemeinsamen Standpunkts werden in regelmäßigen Sitzungen der Ratsgruppe „Ausfuhr konventioneller Waffen“ (COARM) erörtert. Die Mitgliedstaaten tauschen innerhalb der COARM Meinungen und Informationen über einzelne Bestimmungsländer aus, um eine größere Kohärenz ihrer Waffenausfuhrpolitik zu erzielen. Bestimmungsländer in Nahost und Nordafrika sind seit dem Arabischen Frühling regelmäßig Thema in der COARM.

(Versione italiana)

Interrogazione con richiesta di risposta scritta E-003231/12

alla Commissione (Vicepresidente/Alto Rappresentante)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Frieda Brepoels (Verts/ALE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), Oreste Rossi (EFD), Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL), Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE), Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), Ana Gomes (S&D), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL), Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE), Mariya Nedelcheva (PPE) e Sergio Paolo Frances Silvestris (PPE)

(26 marzo 2012)

Oggetto: VP/HR — Esportazioni di attrezzature militari del Regno Unito in Bahrein

Dati ufficiali resi noti ultimamente hanno rivelato che, nonostante i recenti episodi di repressione violenta in Bahrein, nel corso degli ultimi mesi il governo britannico ha approvato la vendita di attrezzature militari a questo paese.

Nel febbraio 2011, in seguito alla rivelazione di discutibili operazioni di vendita di armi a Bahrein, Libia ed Egitto, il governo britannico annunciò una revisione della sua politica in materia di rilascio delle licenze di esportazione di armi. Nel marzo 2011, il Regno Unito dichiarò conseguentemente di aver revocato 122 licenze, di cui 44 riguardavano esportazioni di attrezzature militari in Bahrein.

Ciò nonostante, per quanto riguarda il Bahrein il Regno Unito riprese poco più tardi le sue esportazioni di armi. Nel giugno 2011 era tornato alla situazione precedente, ignorando il perpetuarsi nel paese di violenze sui civili e arresti di attivisti.

Secondo le più recenti statistiche disponibili, relative al terzo trimestre del 2011 e pubblicate sul sito web del Dipartimento del Regno Unito per il commercio, l'innovazione e le competenze (Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills), il Regno Unito ha concesso licenze per l'esportazione in Bahrein di attrezzature militari — tra cui silenziatori per armi da fuoco, congegni di mira, fucili, cannoni navali e tecnologia per l'artiglieria — per un valore di 1,3 milioni di sterline (GBP).

I criteri della posizione comune dell'UE sulle esportazioni di armi impongono agli Stati membri di rifiutare di rilasciare licenze qualora esista un ₫rischio evidente₻ che ₫la tecnologia o le attrezzature militari da esportare possano essere utilizzate a fini di repressione interna₻.

Considerato quanto sopra:

Risposta dell’Alta Rappresentante/Vicepresidente Catherine Ashton a nome della Commissione

(8 giugno 2012)

L’Unione europea pubblica nella Gazzetta ufficiale dell’UE relazioni annuali sulle esportazioni di armi. L’ultima relazione pubblicata — la tredicesima — tratta le esportazioni degli Stati membri nel 2010. I dati relativi alle esportazioni di armi degli Stati membri nel 2011 non sono ancora disponibili: verranno raccolti nell’arco dei prossimi mesi e saranno pubblicati nella quattordicesima relazione annuale entro la fine del 2012.

A norma della posizione comune (2008/944/PESC) sul controllo delle esportazioni di attrezzature militari, le decisioni di autorizzare o di non autorizzare l’esportazione di armi rimangono di competenza esclusiva degli Stati membri. Le domande di licenza di esportazione devono essere esaminate dagli Stati membri dell’UE basandosi sugli otto criteri stabiliti dalla posizione comune e gli Stati membri devono tener conto delle eventuali licenze rifiutate da altri Stati membri per operazioni analoghe.

Le problematiche sollevate dall’attuazione della posizione comune vengono discusse nelle periodiche riunioni del gruppo di lavoro del Consiglio sull’esportazione di armi convenzionali (COARM). In tale sede gli Stati membri si scambiano opinioni e informazioni su destinazioni specifiche al fine di rendere più coerenti le rispettive politiche di esportazione di armi verso le destinazioni in questione. Le destinazioni medio-orientali e nordafricane vengono periodicamente discusse in sede di COARM dall’inizio della ₫primavera araba₻.

(Nederlandse versie)

Vraag met verzoek om schriftelijk antwoord E-003231/12

aan de Commissie (Vicevoorzitter — Hoge Vertegenwoordiger)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Frieda Brepoels (Verts/ALE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), Oreste Rossi (EFD), Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL), Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE), Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), Ana Gomes (S&D), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL), Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE), Mariya Nedelcheva (PPE) en Sergio Paolo Frances Silvestris (PPE)

(26 maart 2012)

Betreft: VP/HR — Export van militair materiaal naar Bahrein door het VK

Uit onlangs gepubliceerde officiële cijfers blijkt dat de Britse regering, ondanks recente gewelddadige confrontaties in Bahrein, de voorbije maanden de verkoop van militaire uitrusting aan dat land goedgekeurd heeft.

Nadat in februari 2011 verdachte wapenleveringen aan Bahrein, Libië en Egypte aan het licht gekomen waren, kondigde de Britse overheid aan haar wapenexportbeleid te zullen herzien. In maart 2011 verklaarde het VK 122 vergunningen te hebben ingetrokken, waaronder 44 voor de export van militair materiaal aan Bahrein.

Het land hervatte echter al zeer gauw zijn wapenleveringen aan Bahrein. Tegen juni 2011 ging alles weer zijn oude gang, waarbij het aanhoudende geweld tegen burgers en de arrestaties van activisten in het land compleet genegeerd werden.

Uit de laatste nieuwe statistieken voor het derde kwartaal van 2011 die op de website van het Britse Department for Business, Innovation and Skills gepubliceerd werden, blijkt dat het VK aan Bahrein vergunningen verleend heeft voor de export van militair materiaal — met inbegrip van geluiddempers, wapenvizieren, geweren, scheepsgeschut en wapentechnologie — ter waarde van 1,3 miljoen GBP.

De criteria van het gemeenschappelijk standpunt van de Europese Unie inzake wapenuitvoer vereisen dat lidstaten een vergunning weigeren indien er een „duidelijk risico bestaat dat uit te voeren militaire uitrusting of technologie gebruikt worden voor binnenlandse onderdrukking”.

Rekening houdende met hetgeen voorafgaat:

Antwoord van hoge vertegenwoordiger/vicevoorzitter Ashton namens de Commissie

(8 juni 2012)

De EU publiceert jaarverslagen over wapenuitvoer in het Publicatieblad van de EU. In het meest recente gepubliceerde 13de jaarverslag zijn gegevens opgenomen over de wapenuitvoer uit de lidstaten in 2010. Gegevens met betrekking tot de wapenuitvoer uit de EU-lidstaten in 2011 zijn nog niet beschikbaar. Zij zullen in de loop van de komende maanden worden ingezameld en eind 2012 worden gepubliceerd in het 14de jaarverslag.

Krachtens Gemeenschappelijk Standpunt 2008/944/GBVB van de Raad met betrekking tot de controle op de uitvoer van militaire goederen blijven besluiten om toestemming voor de uitvoer van wapens te verlenen dan wel die uitvoer te weigeren een exclusieve nationale bevoegdheid van de lidstaten. De EU-lidstaten moeten de wapenuitvoervergunningen toetsen aan acht criteria die in het Gemeenschappelijk Standpunt zijn vastgesteld. Daarnaast moeten de lidstaten rekening houden met de eventuele weigeringen van andere lidstaten voor soortgelijke transacties.

Kwesties die naar aanleiding van de tenuitvoerlegging van het Gemeenschappelijk Standpunt aan de orde zijn gesteld, worden besproken in de regelmatige bijeenkomsten van de Groep Export van conventionele wapens (COARM). In het kader van de COARM wisselen de lidstaten inzichten en informatie uit over specifieke bestemmingen om een grotere samenhang tot stand te brengen in het wapenexportbeleid ten opzichte van de desbetreffende landen. Sinds het begin van de Arabische lente zijn de uitvoerbestemmingen in het Midden-Oosten en Noord-Afrika geregeld aan de orde gekomen tijdens de besprekingen in de COARM.

(Versão portuguesa)

Pergunta com pedido de resposta escrita E-003231/12

à Comissão (Vice-Presidente / Alta Representante)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Frieda Brepoels (Verts/ALE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), Oreste Rossi (EFD), Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL), Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE), Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), Ana Gomes (S&D), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL), Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE), Mariya Nedelcheva (PPE) e Sergio Paolo Frances Silvestris (PPE)

(26 de março de 2012)

Assunto: VP/HR — Exportações de material militar do Reino Unido para o Barém

Os números oficiais recentemente divulgados revelaram que, apesar da repressão violenta verificada no Barém nos últimos tempos, o governo britânico aprovou, ao longo dos últimos meses, a venda de equipamento militar a favor deste país.

Em fevereiro de 2011, após a divulgação das vendas questionáveis de armamento ao Barém, à Líbia e ao Egito, o governo britânico anunciou uma revisão da sua política de licenciamento de exportação de armas. Por conseguinte, em março de 2011, o Reino Unido declarou ter revogado 122 licenças, das quais 44 abrangiam exportações militares a favor do Barém.

Contudo, no caso do Barém, o Reino Unido retomou rapidamente as suas transferências de armas. Em junho de 2011, as negociações voltaram ao normal, ignorando a violência permanente contra civis e a detenção de ativistas em todo o país.

As últimas estatísticas disponíveis, que abrangem o terceiro trimestre de 2011 e estão publicadas no sítio Web do Ministério da Inovação Empresarial e da Qualificação Profissional do Reino Unido, revelam que o país concedeu licenças de exportações militares a favor do Barém, incluindo silenciadores de armas, visores de armas, espingardas, armamento naval e tecnologia para artilharia, no valor de 1,3 milhões de libras.

Os critérios da posição comum da UE sobre as exportações de armas exigem a recusa de emissão de licenças de exportação por parte dos Estados-Membros caso haja ₫risco manifesto de a tecnologia ou o equipamento militar a exportar serem suscetíveis de utilização para fins de repressão interna₻.

Tendo em conta o exposto:

Resposta dada pela Alta Representante/Vice-Presidente Catherine Ashton em nome da Comissão

(8 de junho de 2012)

A UE publica relatórios anuais sobre as exportações de armas que são publicados no Jornal Oficial da UE. O último relatório publicado abrange as exportações dos Estados-Membros em 2010. Ainda não estão disponíveis dados relativos às exportações de armas dos Estados-Membros da União em 2011. Esses dados serão recolhidos durante os próximos meses e publicados no décimo quarto relatório anual antes do final de 2012.

Nos termos da Posição Comum (2008/944/PESC) que define regras comuns aplicáveis ao controlo das exportações de tecnologia e equipamento militares, as decisões de autorizar ou recusar exportações de armas são da exclusiva responsabilidade dos Estados-Membros. Os Estados-Membros da UE avaliam as licenças de exportação de armas com base em oito critérios fixados na Posição Comum; os Estados-Membros devem tomar em consideração as recusas de licenças de exportação eventualmente emitidas por outros Estados-Membros relativamente a transações idênticas.

As questões que a implementação da Posição Comum suscita são debatidas nas reuniões periódicas do Grupo ₫Exportações de armas convencionais₻ (COARM). No âmbito do COARM, os Estados-Membros trocam opiniões e informações sobre destinos precisos, tendo em vista uma maior coerência das suas políticas de exportação de armas para os destinos em causa. Destinos como o Médio Oriente e o Norte de África têm sido regularmente debatidos no Grupo COARM desde o início da Primavera Árabe.

(Slovenska različica)

Vprašanje za pisni odgovor E-003231/12

za Komisijo (podpredsednica/visoka predstavnica)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Frieda Brepoels (Verts/ALE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), Oreste Rossi (EFD), Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL), Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE), Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), Ana Gomes (S&D), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL), Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE), Mariya Nedelcheva (PPE) in Sergio Paolo Frances Silvestris (PPE)

(26. marec 2012)

Zadeva: VP/HR – vojaški izvoz Združenega kraljestva v Bahrajn

Nedavno objavljene uradne številke so razkrile, da je britanska vlada v zadnjih šestih mesecih kljub nedavnemu nasilnemu zatrtju protestov v Bahrajnu odobrila prodajo vojaške opreme tej državi.

Britanska vlada je februarja 2011, po razkritju vprašljive prodaje orožja Bahrajnu, Libiji in Egiptu, naznanila presojo svoje politike izvoznih dovoljenj za orožje. Združeno kraljestvo je tako marca 2011 naznanilo, da je razveljavilo 122 dovoljenj, vključno s 44, ki so zajemala vojaški izvoz v Bahrajn.

Vendar je v primeru Bahrajna Združeno kraljestvo hitro obnovilo promet z orožjem. Že junija 2011 je ponovno začelo delati po starem in prezrlo nadaljnje nasilje nad civilisti in aretacije aktivistov v državi.

Zadnji razpoložljivi statistični podatki, ki zajemajo tretje četrtletje 2011 in so objavljeni na spletni strani Ministrstva za podjetništvo, inovacije ter znanja in veščine Združenega kraljestva, kažejo, da je Združeno kraljestvo izdalo dovoljenja za vojaški izvoz v Bahrajn – vključno z dušilniki za pištole in puške, vizirji za orožje, puškami, ladijskimi topovi in tehnologijo za artilerijo – v vrednosti 1,3 milijona GBP.

Merila skupnega stališča EU o izvozu orožja zahtevajo od držav članic, da zavrnejo dovoljenja, če obstaja „očitno tveganje“, da „bi vojaška tehnologija ali oprema za izvoz lahko bila uporabljena za notranjo represijo“.

Glede na navedeno:

Odgovor visoke predstavnice in podpredsednice Catherine Ashton v imenu Komisije

(8. junij 2012)

Evropska unija objavlja letna poročila o izvozu orožja, ki se objavljajo v Uradnem listu Evropske unije. Nazadnje je bilo objavljeno 13. poročilo, ki zajema izvoz iz držav članic v letu 2010. Podatki o izvozu orožja iz držav članic EU za leto 2011 še niso na voljo. Zbrani bodo v naslednjih mesecih in objavljeni v 14. letnem poročilu do konca leta 2012.

V skladu s Skupnim stališčem Sveta 2008/944/SZVP o nadzoru izvoza vojaške opreme ostajajo odločitve o njegovi odobritvi ali zavrnitvi izključno v pristojnosti držav članic. Dovoljenja za izvoz orožja, ki jih pregledujejo države članice EU, je treba oceniti na podlagi osmih kriterijev iz Skupnega stališča Sveta in države članice morajo upoštevati zavrnitve, ki jih bodo morda izdale druge države članice za podobne sklenjene posle.

Vprašanja v zvezi z izvajanjem Skupnega stališča se obravnavajo na rednih sestankih Sveta za izvoz konvencionalnega orožja (COARM). Države članice izmenjujejo mnenja in informacije o določenih namembnih krajih na sestankih Sveta COARM z namenom, da se izboljša skladnost politike izvoza orožja v zvezi z obravnavanimi namembnimi kraji. Od „arabske pomladi“ se Bližnji vzhod in namembni kraji v severni Afriki redno obravnavajo na za Svet (only in the heading) COARM.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003231/12

to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)

Pino Arlacchi (S&D), Andrea Cozzolino (S&D), Frieda Brepoels (Verts/ALE), Ivo Vajgl (ALDE), Oreste Rossi (EFD), Sabine Lösing (GUE/NGL), Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE), Willy Meyer (GUE/NGL), Keith Taylor (Verts/ALE), Ana Gomes (S&D), Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL), Rui Tavares (Verts/ALE), Mariya Nedelcheva (PPE) and Sergio Paolo Frances Silvestris (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: VP/HR — UK military exports to Bahrain

Newly released official figures have disclosed that, despite the recent violent crackdown in Bahrain, the British Government has approved, over the past months, the sale of military equipment to that country.

In February 2011, following the exposure of questionable arms sales to Bahrain, Libya and Egypt, the British Government announced a review of its arms export licensing policy. In March 2011, accordingly, the UK declared that it had revoked 122 licences, including 44 covering military exports to Bahrain.

However, in the case of Bahrain the UK quickly resumed its arms transfers. By June 2011 it was back to business as usual, ignoring the continuing violence against civilians and arrests of activists in the country.

The latest statistics available, covering the third quarter of 2011 and published on the website of the UK’s Department for Business, Innovation, and Skills, show that the UK has licensed military exports to Bahrain — including gun silencers, weapon sights, rifles, naval guns and technology for artillery — to the value of GBP 1.3 million.

The criteria of the EU common position on arms exports require Member States to refuse a licence if there is a ‘clear risk’ that ‘the military technology or equipment to be exported might be used for internal repression’.

In view of the above:

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2012)

The EU publishes annual reports on arms exports that are published in the EU official journal. The latest 13th report published covers exports from member states in 2010. Data relating to EU member states’ arms exports in 2011 are not yet available. They will be collected over the next months and published in the 14th annual report by the end of 2012.

Under the Common Position (2008/944/CFSP) on the control of export of military equipment, decisions on whether to authorise or deny arms exports remain a exclusively national responsibility of member states. Arms export licences reviewed by EU member states have to be assessed against eight criteria laid down in the Common Position and member states have to take into account denials possibly issued by other member states for similar transactions.

Issues raised by implementation of the Common Position are discussed in regular meetings of the Council Working Group on Conventional Arms Exports (COARM). The member states exchange views and information on specific destinations in COARM with a view to achieving greater consistency of their arms export policy towards the destinations in question. The Middle East and North African destinations have been regularly discussed in COARM since the outbreak of the ‘Arab Spring’.

(Versão portuguesa)

Pergunta com pedido de resposta escrita E-003234/12

à Comissão

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 de março de 2012)

Assunto: Reconhecimento de diplomas universitários a nível europeu

— A 23 de novembro de 2011, a Comissão Europeia apresentou o programa intitulado ₫Erasmus para Todos₻, que tem como objetivo abranger cerca de 5 milhões de pessoas nas áreas da educação, formação, juventude e desporto;

— Com um orçamento global para o período 2014/2020 de 19 mil milhões de euros, a Comissão Europeia pretende alocar 1,8 mil milhões de euros ao objetivo da promoção da dimensão internacional do ensino superior, por forma a estimular as ações de mobilidade para fins de aprendizagem, bem como o diálogo político entre as autoridades, instituições e organizações dos diversos Estados-Membros;

— Segundo Androulla Vassiliou, Comissária Europeia responsável pela Educação, Cultura, Multilinguismo e Juventude, ₫o investimento na educação e na formação é o nosso melhor investimento para o futuro da Europa. Estudar no estrangeiro potencia as competências das pessoas, o seu desenvolvimento pessoal e a sua adaptabilidade, fazendo com que tenham mais possibilidades de emprego₻;

— A Comissão Europeia está cada vez mais empenhada em aprofundar o espaço europeu de ensino superior, estimulando a crescente participação dos jovens universitários nos programas Erasmus;

— Vários jovens europeus têm vindo a procurar uma oportunidade profissional fora do seu país de origem, mas muitas vezes acabam por se deparar com enormes barreiras por parte das entidades públicas ao reconhecimento dos cursos superiores que realizaram;

— Apesar de o Processo de Bolonha estar em vigor, continua a existir uma forte disparidade no reconhecimento das qualificações académicas, sendo este caso ainda mais evidente entre os titulares de licenciaturas ou mestrados;

Pergunta-se à Comissão:

Resposta dada por Androulla Vassiliou em nome da Comissão

(15 de junho de 2012)

A mobilidade na aprendizagem é uma prioridade da Agenda da Comissão para a Modernização do Ensino Superior e o pilar central do programa Erasmus. O programa ₫Erasmus para Todos₻ proposto para 2014/2020 pela Comissão aumentará substancialmente a mobilidade. No entanto, a Comissão reconhece que continuam a verificar-se obstáculos ao reconhecimento de qualificações académicas; é necessário envidar novos esforços.

Por conseguinte, a Comissão apoia os Estados-Membros no desenvolvimento de sistemas de reconhecimento de qualificações académicas, no âmbito da UE e do Processo de Bolonha. Promove ativamente boas práticas de reconhecimento, através do apoio à rede NARIC (123), o financiamento de projetos transnacionais para melhorar os procedimentos de reconhecimento académico, o incentivo de boas práticas em ECTS (124) e como líder conjunto de um grupo de trabalho do Conselho da Europa relativo a quadros de qualificações e ao reconhecimento académico das qualificações.

No âmbito do Processo de Bolonha, os ministros responsáveis pelo ensino superior reunidos em Bucareste, em 26 e 27 de abril de 2012, consideraram o reconhecimento automático dos diplomas académicos comparáveis como um objetivo de Bolonha a longo prazo. Um grupo precursor de países explorará várias formas que permitam alcançar o referido objetivo. Além disso, foi estabelecido um compromisso para a revisão do sistema ECTS, de modo a promover a utilização dos resultados da aprendizagem, a reformulação da legislação nacional com vista a torná-la conforme com a Convenção de Lisboa sobre o reconhecimento de qualificações relativas ao ensino superior e para incentivar as instituições de ensino superior a avaliar os procedimentos de reconhecimento académico em matéria de garantia de qualidade. A Comissão apoia este processo e irá organizar com os Estados-Membros uma co-aprendizagem sobre o reconhecimento no outono de 2012.

No que respeita ao acesso a profissões regulamentadas, nomeadamente no setor público, a Comissão propôs recentemente uma modernização da diretiva relativa ao reconhecimento das qualificações profissionais, atualmente em fase de negociação no Parlamento Europeu e no Conselho.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003234/12

to the Commission

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Europe-wide recognition of university qualifications

— On 23 November 2011, the Commission unveiled a programme called ‘Erasmus for All’, which is intended to encompass around 5 million people in the areas of education, training, youth and sport.

— Out of the overall budget of EUR 19 000 million for the period from 2014 to 2020, it intends to allocate EUR 1.8 billion to the objective of promoting the international dimension of higher education, so as to promote mobility actions for learning purposes and encourage authorities, institutions and organisations in the Member States to enter into policy dialogue.

— According to Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, ‘Investing in education and training is the best investment we can make for Europe’s future. Studying abroad boosts people’s skills, personal development and adaptability, and makes them more employable’.

— The Commission is increasingly committed to consolidating the European higher education area by encouraging the increased participation of young university students in the Erasmus programmes.

— Many young people have been seeking a professional opportunity outside their country of origin, but they often end up encountering immense obstacles from public bodies when it comes to recognising the higher education courses that they have completed.

— Although the Bologna Process is in force, there is still major disparity in terms of recognition of academic qualifications, and this is even more evident amongst holders of bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

— Is the Commission aware that the recognition of academic qualifications has been posing a serious problem for young people in the Member States attempting to enter the labour market?

— Does the Commission not consider it somewhat illogical that it should be seeking to promote increased mobility in higher education when there is no system for the proper uniform recognition of university and polytechnic courses?

— What can the Commission do to standardise the recognition of higher education courses throughout Europe?

Answer given by Mrs Vassiliou on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2012)

Learning mobility is a priority of the Commission Agenda for Modernising Higher Education, and the central pillar of the Erasmus programme. The ‘Erasmus for All’ proposal from the Commission for 2014-2020 will increase mobility substantially. However, the Commission recognises that obstacles to recognising academic qualifications persist; further efforts are required.

The Commission thus supports Member States in developing systems for recognising academic qualifications, in the EU framework and in the Bologna process. It actively promotes good recognition practices by supporting the NARIC (125) network, funding transnational projects to improve academic recognition procedures, encouraging good practice in ECTS (126) and as joint leader of a Council of Europe working group on qualifications frameworks and the academic recognition of qualifications.

Under the Bologna Process, Higher Education Ministers in Bucharest on 26-27 April 2012 adopted automatic recognition of comparable academic degrees as a long-term Bologna goal. A pathfinder group of countries will explore ways to achieve this. They also committed to review ECTS to promote the use of learning outcomes, national reviews of legislation to comply with the Lisbon Recognition Convention, and to encourage higher education institutions to assess academic recognition procedures in Quality Assurance. The Commission supports this process and will organise peer learning on recognition with Member States in autumn 2012.

With regard to access to regulated professions, including in the public sector, the Commission recently proposed a modernisation of the directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications, currently being negotiated in the European Parliament and in the Council.

(Versão portuguesa)

Pergunta com pedido de resposta escrita E-003235/12

à Comissão

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 de março de 2012)

Assunto: Alianças de conhecimento entre empresas e instituições de ensino superior

— A Comissão Europeia apresentou o programa intitulado ₫Erasmus para Todos₻, que tem como objetivo abranger cerca de 5 milhões de pessoas nas áreas da educação, formação, juventude e desporto;

— Segundo a alínea a) do ponto 1 do artigo 6°, o programa dará prossecução aos seus objetivos no domínio da educação, formação e juventude, graças à realização de três tipos de ações, nomeadamente 1) mobilidade individual para fins de aprendizagem; 2) cooperação para a inovação e boas práticas; e 3) apoio à reforma política;

— No que concerne à ação temática da cooperação para a inovação e boas práticas, pretende-se financiar as parcerias transnacionais entre empresas e instituições de educação, nomeadamente as alianças de conhecimento entre estabelecimentos de ensino superior e empresas, com vista a promover a criatividade, a inovação e o empreendedorismo;

— A Comissão Europeia e os diversos Estados-Membros têm vindo a estimular a construção de incubadoras de empresas como forma de diminuir o diferencial existente entre o conhecimento académico e o mercado empresarial, fomentando-se a inovação e o espírito empreendedor dos cientistas;

— É entendimento de vários dirigentes políticos europeus que é fundamental apoiar a criação de empresas e o espírito empreendedor dos jovens universitários, por forma a aumentar a competitividade da União Europeia face às restantes economias globais;

Pergunta-se à Comissão:

Resposta dada por Androulla Vassiliou em nome da Comissão

(14 de junho de 2012)

A proposta da Comissão relativa ao programa ₫Erasmus para Todos₻ incide em três tipos de ação: mobilidade individual para fins de aprendizagem; cooperação para a inovação e boas práticas; reformas políticas nos Estados-Membros. Embora as incubadoras de empresas não sejam especificamente visadas, se as suas atividades corresponderem aos objetivos do programa, podem candidatar-se a financiamento.

Ao abrigo da vertente ₫cooperação para a inovação e boas práticas₻, o programa ₫Erasmus para Todos₻ apoiará práticas inovadoras para promover a empregabilidade, a criatividade e o espírito empresarial. As ₫Alianças do Conhecimento₻ — iniciativas de cooperação entre as empresas e o ensino superior — incidirão em novos métodos de ensino e aprendizagem, em competências e atitudes empresariais, e na mobilidade entre o ensino superior e as empresas.

₫Erasmus para Todos₻ prevê a criação de 200 Alianças do Conhecimento, envolvendo entre 1 500 e 2 000 parceiros. Na sequência de uma proposta do Parlamento Europeu, foram lançados projetos-piloto de Alianças do Conhecimento. Um primeiro convite à apresentação de candidaturas, lançado em 2011, suscitou mais de 90 candidaturas, estando em desenvolvimento três projetos selecionados. Está atualmente aberto um segundo convite à apresentação de candidaturas, cujo prazo termina a 28 de junho de 2012

(http://ec.europa.eu/education/calls/s0312_en.htm).

A política de coesão pode apoiar as incubadoras de empresas e a cooperação entre universidades e empresas. No quadro da futura política de coesão, tais projetos serão apoiados no âmbito de estratégias de inovação para a especialização inteligente;

cf. (http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/guides).

O Instituto Europeu de Inovação e Tecnologia apoia as incubadoras de empresas em coerência com a missão das suas Comunidades de Conhecimento e Inovação (CCI) de fomentar o espírito empresarial e a criação de novas empresas. Após dois anos, as CCI já criaram cerca de 90 novas empresas deste tipo.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003235/12

to the Commission

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Knowledge Alliances between higher education institutions and enterprises

— The Commission has introduced a programme called ‘Erasmus for All’, which is intended to encompass around 5 million people in the areas of education, training, youth and sport.

— According to Article 6(1)(a), the programme will pursue its objectives in the field of education, training and youth via three types of action, specifically 1) learning mobility of individuals, 2) cooperation for innovation and good practices, and 3) support for policy reform.

— As regards action in the area of cooperation for innovation and good practices, the intention is to fund transnational partnerships between companies and education institutions, specifically Knowledge Alliances between higher education institutions and enterprises, promoting creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship.

— The Commission and the Member States have been encouraging the construction of business incubators in order to narrow the divide between academic knowledge and the labour market, thereby fostering innovation and entrepreneurial spirit amongst scientists.

— A number of Europe’s political leaders consider it crucial to support enterprise creation and the entrepreneurial spirit of young university students, so as to make the European Union more competitive compared to other global economies.

— What type of spending related to business incubators will the ‘Erasmus for All’ programme be able to support?

— What type of spending on increased cooperation between businesses and higher education institutions will it be possible to finance, as part of action in the area of ‘cooperation for innovation and good practices’?

— What programmes or initiatives does the Commission intend to promote in the next multiannual financial framework to support the creation or development of business incubators?

Answer given by Ms Vassiliou on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2012)

The Commission's proposal for the ‘Erasmus for All’ programme focuses on three types of action: learning mobility for individuals; cooperation for innovation and good practices; and policy reforms in Member States. While business incubators are not specifically targeted, if their activities meet the programme's objectives, they could apply for funding.

Under ‘cooperation for innovation and good practices’, ‘Erasmus for All’ will support innovative practices to promote employability, creativity and entrepreneurship. Knowledge Alliances — cooperative ventures between businesses and higher education — will address new learning and teaching methods, entrepreneurial skills and attitudes, and mobility between higher education and business.

‘Erasmus for All’ foresees around 200 Knowledge Alliances, involving 1 500‐2 000 partners. On a proposal of the European Parliament, Knowledge Alliance pilot projects have been launched. A first call for proposals in 2011 attracted more than 90 applications and three projects selected are in development. A second call with a deadline of 28 June 2012, is now open (http://ec.europa.eu/education/calls/s0312_en.htm).

Cohesion policy can support business incubators and university-business cooperation. Under the future cohesion policy, such projects will be supported within innovation strategies for smart specialisation; see http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/guides

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology supports business incubators in line with the mission of its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) to foster entrepreneurship and create new businesses. After two years, the KICs have already created around 90 such new ventures.

(Versão portuguesa)

Pergunta com pedido de resposta escrita E-003236/12

à Comissão

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 de março de 2012)

Assunto: Cooperação Regional ACP-RUP

— A Comunicação da Comissão, de 26 de maio de 2004, intitulada ₫Uma parceria reforçada para as Regiões Ultraperiféricas₻ (COM(2004)0343), defende a criação de uma estratégia tendo como base a melhoria das acessibilidades e de outras limitações geográficas, reforçar a competitividade e a inserção regional;

— O memorando de entendimento das Regiões Ultraperiféricas, intitulado ₫Uma visão renovada da estratégia europeia para a ultraperiferia₻, estimula a Comissão Europeia a ₫abordar de forma flexível e determinada as dificuldades de inserção das RUP nas respetivas zonas geográficas, em especial as dificuldades na implementação da cooperação territorial₻;

— No âmbito da inserção regional das RUP, têm sido promovidos diversos encontros com autoridades regionais e locais dos países África-Caraíbas-Pacífico (ACP), como é o caso do Fórum de Conectividade e Transportes realizado com os países da África Atlântica Ocidental Subsariana, a I Reunião Económica Espaço Atlântico Euro-Africano ou o Grupo de Trabalho ACP-RUP, que reúne Eurodeputados das RUP e membros dos Parlamentos nacionais dos países ACP;

— Atualmente, assiste-se a um reforço da importância da África Subsariana, que deve ser acautelada na futura comunicação da Comissão sobre a estratégia das RUP que irá ser conhecida em maio do presente ano;

Pergunta-se à Comissão:

Resposta dada por Johannes Hahn em nome da Comissão

(24 de maio de 2012)

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003236/12

to the Commission

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: ACP-OMR regional cooperation

— The Commission communication of 26 May 2004 entitled ‘A stronger partnership for the outermost regions’ (COM(2004)0343) advocates a strategy based on improving accessibility and remedying other geographical limitations, and on enhancing competitiveness and regional integration.

— The memorandum of understanding for the outermost regions (OMRs), entitled ‘A renewed vision of the European strategy for outermost regions’, urges the Commission to ‘approach with a broad mind and determination the difficulties for the integration of OMRs in their respective geographic areas, particularly the anomalies and disfunctions in the launching of territorial cooperation’.

— As regards regional integration of the OMRs, various meetings have been promoted with regional and local authorities in countries of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), such as the Fórum de Conectividade e Transportes [Forum on Connectivity and Transport] held with countries of Western Atlantic sub-Saharan Africa, the First Economic Meeting of the Euro-African Atlantic Area or the ACP-OMR Working Group, which brings together Members of the European Parliament and members of the national parliaments of ACP countries.

— The importance of sub-Saharan Africa is currently increasing, and that fact should be reflected in the future Commission communication on OMR strategy, to be published in May of this year.

what arrangements will ACP-OMR cooperation be dovetailed into future EU foreign policy measures?

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the Commission

(24 May 2012)

(Versão portuguesa)

Pergunta com pedido de resposta escrita E-003237/12

à Comissão

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 de março de 2012)

Assunto: Cooperação Transnacional entre RUP e países vizinhos no âmbito da Política de Coesão, 2014/2020

— Os artigos 355.° e 349.° do Tratado sobre o Funcionamento da União Europeia (TFUE), reconhecem um estatuto particular às Regiões Ultraperiféricas e a alínea a) do n.° 3 do artigo 107.° estabelece um regime dos auxílios de Estado nestas regiões, através de uma dotação específica adicional;

— Em outubro de 2011, a Comissão Europeia publicou a sua proposta para a vertente de Cooperação Territorial Europeia no período 2014/2020, que tem como objetivos ₫reforçar a coesão territorial através da partilha de boas práticas e experiências entre Regiões; dar um estímulo à elaboração de projetos comuns entre territórios da União Europeia e criar redes entre Regiões que possuam recursos e estratégias comuns₻;

— Ao contrário do anterior período de programação, a proposta para o período 2014/2020 consagra a possibilidade de serem criados projetos de cooperação territorial entre regiões europeias e territórios vizinhos com interesses similares;

— Na referida proposta, ressalva-se que cerca de 21 % do orçamento da cooperação territorial será destinado aos projetos de cooperação transnacional (2 431 mil milhões de euros), sendo evidente o estímulo dado à criação de maiores sinergias estratégicas entre regiões europeias e regiões vizinhas;

— Várias empresas europeias têm projetos que poderão desenvolver nas regiões africanas vizinhas, fomentando-se uma crescente cooperação territorial e um aumento de competitividade do tecido empresarial europeu;

Pergunta-se à Comissão:

Resposta dada por Sr. Hahn em nome da Comissão

(25 de maio de 2012)

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003237/12

to the Commission

Nuno Teixeira (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Transnational cooperation between ORs and neighbouring countries under the 2014-2020 cohesion policy

— Articles 355 and 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) recognise the specific status of the outermost regions and Article 107(3)(a) of the TFEU lays down state aid arrangements based on a specific additional allocation.

— In October 2011, the Commission published its proposal for the direction of European territorial cooperation in the years from 2014 to 2020. The aims are to enhance territorial cohesion by sharing best practices and experiences among regions, encourage EU territories to enter into joint projects, and establish networks of regions with shared resources and strategies.

— Unlike the previous programming period, the proposal for the 2014-2020 period provides for territorial cooperation projects between neighbouring European regions and territories with similar interests.

— The proposal states that approximately 21 % of the territorial cooperation budget will be spent on transnational cooperation projects (EUR 2.431 billion) and clearly encourages greater strategic synergies between European regions and neighbouring regions.

— Several European companies have projects that they will be able to undertake in neighbouring African regions, thereby fostering increased territorial cooperation and making European businesses more competitive.

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 2012)

regional Investment Facilities which encompass both public and private investments in strategic areas. Figures on available funding and application procedures vary between instruments. For some programmes, new funding opportunities may currently be limited due to the up-coming closing date.

(Nederlandse versie)

Vraag met verzoek om schriftelijk antwoord P-003240/12

aan de Commissie

Esther de Lange (PPE)

(26 maart 2012)

Betreft: Pools strooizout in voedsel

Pools strooizout is door malafide bedrijven verpakt als consumptiezout en in zowel Polen als andere landen van de Europese Unie verwerkt in voedsel. De Poolse autoriteiten willen de lijst met bedrijven die het zout gekocht en mogelijk verwerkt hebben niet vrijgeven. De Poolse minister Sawicki riep op te zwijgen in het belang van de Poolse export: „Wij helpen de concurrentie niet mee de Poolse voedselproductie te vernietigen”.

— Wat is de status van dit strooizoutprobleem in de Europese Unie, in welke hoeveelheden is het strooizout op de Europese markt  terecht gekomen, welke bedrijven zijn getroffen, wat is de samenstelling van het gebruikte zout en wat voor effecten hebben (langdurige) consumptie op de gezondheid?

— Welke landen hebben bij de Commissie aangegeven extra maatregelen te nemen ten opzichte van het Poolse zout of andere Poolse producten in dit kader?

— Welke maatregelen neemt de Commissie om de informatie uit Polen over de getroffen bedrijven en de samenstelling van het strooizout met effecten voor de volksgezondheid te krijgen en te verspreiden?

— Is de Commissie ook van mening dat het gezondheidsbelang in de Europese Unie zwaarder weegt dan de exportbelangen van één lidstaat?

Antwoord van de heer Dalli namens de Commissie

(30 april 2012)

Eén partij van 500 kg strooizout uit Polen is naar Nederland verkocht. Een reeks chemische parameters (met inbegrip van mineralen, metalen, nitrieten, nitraten, dioxinen en pcb's) van dit zout is geanalyseerd en vergeleken met normaal Nederlands keuken‐ en tafelzout. Uit de analyses bleek geen significant verschil tussen het Poolse strooizout en het Nederlandse zout voor gebruik in levensmiddelen. Er waren geen andere leveringen van strooizout aan andere lidstaten of derde landen. De Nederlandse autoriteiten hebben het restant van het strooizout uit Polen in beslag genomen. Geen enkel ander land heeft aanvullende maatregelen genomen.

Het strooizout is in Polen onderzocht op de aanwezigheid van zware metalen, dioxinen en pcb's. Wat de metalen (lood, cadmium, kwik en arseen) betreft, lagen alle geconstateerde gehaltes onder de maximumwaarden van de Codex voor deze verontreinigende stoffen in keuken‐ en tafelzout. De gehaltes voor dioxinen en pcb's lagen in het bereik van normale achtergrondverontreiniging.

Op basis van deze informatie lijkt er geen gezondheidsrisico voor de consument te bestaan. De Commissie heeft de Poolse autoriteiten verzocht het systeem voor snelle waarschuwingen over levensmiddelen en diervoeders te informeren als er nog andere gevallen van verzending van strooizout naar andere lidstaten of derde landen worden geconstateerd, of eventueel gevallen van export van levensmiddelen bij de bereiding waarvan dergelijk strooizout is gebruikt.

(English version)

Question for written answer P-003240/12

to the Commission

Esther de Lange (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Polish road salt in food

Polish road salt has been packaged by disreputable companies as edible salt and is being used in food both in Poland and in other European Union countries. The Polish authorities are refusing to release the list of companies which have bought and possibly used the salt. The Polish Minister Marek Sawicki called for this to be kept quiet for the sake of Polish exports: ‘We will not help the competition destroy Polish food production’.

— What is the status of this road salt problem in the European Union, what amount of road salt has entered the European market, which companies are affected, what is the composition of the salt used and what kind of effects does (long-term) consumption have on health?

— Which countries have indicated to the Commission that they are taking additional measures with regard to Polish salt or other Polish products in this context?

— What measures is the Commission taking to obtain and disseminate the information from Poland about the companies concerned, and about the composition of the road salt and its effects on public health?

— Does the Commission also share the view that the interests of health in the European Union outweigh the export interests of one Member State?

Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2012)

One batch of 500 kg of technical salt from Poland was sold to the Netherlands. An analysis of a whole range of chemical parameters (including minerals, metals, nitrites, nitrates, dioxins and PCBs) was performed of the technical salt and compared with regular Dutch food grade salt. The analyses showed no significant difference between the Polish technical salt and the Dutch food grade salt. No other deliveries of technical salt to other Member States or third countries took place. The Netherlands has seized the remaining part of the batch of technical salt from Poland. No other countries have taken additional measures.

In Poland the technical salt was analysed on the presence of heavy metals and dioxins and PCBs. As regards the metals (lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic) all levels found were below the Codex maximum level of these contaminants for food grade salt. The levels of dioxins and PCBs were in the range of a normal background contamination.

Based on this information, there does not seem to be a health risk for the consumer. The Commission has requested the Polish authorities to inform the Rapid Alert System for Feed and Food in case there would be further findings of distribution of technical salt to other Member States or third countries or in case there would be distribution of food produced with such technical salt to other Member States and third countries.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003242/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Marietta Giannakou (PPE)

(26 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Πρωτοβουλίες για τη διατήρηση των μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων στα κράτη μέλη με ύφεση

Σήμερα, λόγω της μεγάλης οικονομικής ύφεσης την οποία συντηρούν η αύξηση της φορολογίας, η μείωση των κατώτατων μισθών, η μείωση του διαθεσίμου και της κατανάλωσης και η έλλειψη της ρευστότητας, πλήττεται άμεσα η λειτουργία και ο σκοπός των μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων. Για το λόγο αυτό, ερωτάται η Επιτροπή:

Απάντηση του κ. Tajani εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(7 Ιουνίου 2012)

Στο πλαίσιο της εφαρμογής της Νομοθετικής Πράξης για τις Μικρές Επιχειρήσεις (SBA), η Επιτροπή έχει αναλάβει διάφορες ενέργειες για τη στήριξη των ΜΜΕ σε σημαντικούς τομείς: πρόσβαση στη χρηματοδότηση, πρόσβαση στις αγορές (μέσα στην ενιαία αγορά και πέραν αυτής) και μείωση του διοικητικού φόρτου.

Οι συγκεκριμένες δραστηριότητες που έχουν ήδη αρχίσει να εφαρμόζονται ή προγραμματίζονται για την περίοδο 2012-2014 περιλαμβάνουν τα εξής:

Μερικά κράτη μέλη εφαρμόζουν ήδη μειωμένους φορολογικούς συντελεστές για τις ΜΜΕ. Τα εθνικά μέτρα αυτού του είδους πρέπει να συνάδουν με τους κανόνες της ΕΕ περί κρατικών ενισχύσεων.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003242/12

to the Commission

Marietta Giannakou (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Measures to sustain small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Member States hit by recession

The major economic recession, fuelled by tax increases to rise, the reduction minimum wage levels, a fall in supply and demand and a lack of liquidity, is directly threatening SMEs’ operations and objectives. In view of this:

Answer given by Mr Tajani on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2012)

In the framework of the implementation of the Small Business Act (SBA) the Commission has launched a number of actions to support SMEs in important areas: access to finance, to markets (within the single market and beyond) and easing administrative burdens.

Concrete activities started or in the pipeline for 2012-2014 include:

Some Member States already apply reduced corporate tax rates for SMEs. Such national measures must comply with the EU State aid rules.

(Versione italiana)

Interrogazione con richiesta di risposta scritta E-003244/12

alla Commissione (Vicepresidente/Alto Rappresentante)

Mario Mauro (PPE)

(26 marzo 2012)

Oggetto: VP/HR — India, indù bruciano un cattolico

India orientale: un indiano di fede cattolica è stato assassinato e il suo corpo dato alle fiamme. Il motivo è l'accusa di essere un praticante della stregoneria.

È accaduto nell'arcidiocesi di Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, in Orissa, regione dell'India orientale, lo scorso 3 marzo, quando un uomo di 50 anni residente nel villaggio di Salimagocha aveva preso parte a una riunione o a una festa insieme a sedici abitanti di un villaggio vicino al suo, tutti di religione indù. Sembra che tutti avessero bevuto non poco. Tutti insieme poi stavano tornando verso le loro abitazioni quando i sedici indù lo hanno assalito e ucciso tagliandogli il collo. Hanno poi dato alle fiamme il corpo lasciandolo nella foresta. Il cadavere è stato rinvenuto il giorno dopo.

I familiari dell'uomo ucciso hanno sporto denuncia alla polizia, che ha fermato i presunti assassini. Secondo le indagini in corso, il movente dato per giustificare la morte dell'uomo è quello di aver praticato la stregoneria. La moglie e i tre figli dell'uomo ovviamente negano l'accusa. Il vice parroco della chiesa di Sant'Antonio di Padova, condannando l'uccisione, ha detto che l'uomo si era da poco convertito al cattolicesimo e che non si era mai occupato di stregoneria. I probabili assassini sono tutta gente analfabeta, profondamente ignorante e che crede nelle superstizioni.

Si chiede:

Risposta dell’Alta Rappresentante/Vicepresidente Catherine Ashton a nome della Commissione

(8 giugno 2012)

L’Alta Rappresentante/Vicepresidente, attraverso la delegazione dell’UE a New Delhi, si informa costantemente in merito agli atti di intolleranza religiosa e di discriminazione nei confronti delle minoranze in India e segue con estrema attenzione la situazione nello Stato di Orissa dal 2010, quando ha avuto luogo la missione dell’UE per l’accertamento dei fatti a seguito degli episodi di violenza collettiva contro i cristiani avvenuti nel 2007 e nel 2008.

Al riguardo sono state espresse più volte preoccupazioni presso le autorità indiane, anche ai massimi livelli, e la questione è sistematicamente discussa nell’ambito del dialogo annuale sui diritti umani UE-India.

La delegazione dell’UE e le ambasciate degli Stati membri a New Delhi intrattengono inoltre contatti regolari con interlocutori locali e con le ONG europee in diversi Stati dell’India per monitorare la situazione delle minoranze, compresa quella dei cristiani. L’UE segue inoltre da vicino il modo cui sono portate avanti la sensibilizzazione ai diritti, la riforma della polizia e alcune normative, come l’imminente progetto di legge sulla prevenzione della violenza collettiva, e discute questi temi con le autorità indiane.

L’elaborazione delle relazioni in vista del prossimo esame periodico universale dell’India nel giugno 2012 ha costituito un’occasione per fare il punto della situazione sulla libertà di religione o di credo, un tema che sarà ampiamente discusso nell’ambito dei lavori preparatori a tale evento. In questo contesto occorre riconoscere il ruolo encomiabile della Commissione nazionale dell’India per le minoranze, che segue tali questioni ed è in regolare contatto con la delegazione dell’UE.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003244/12

to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)

Mario Mauro (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: VP/HR — India: Catholic man burnt by Hindus

In eastern India, an Indian Catholic was murdered and his body burned after having been accused of practising witchcraft.

The incident occurred on 3 March 2012 in the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, a region in eastern India, when a 50-year-old man living in the village of Salimagocha attended a meeting or party alongside 16 inhabitants of a nearby village, all of whom were Hindus. Apparently having all drunk more than just a little, they were returning home when the 16 Hindus attacked and killed him by cutting his throat. They then set his body on fire and left it in the forest, where it was found the following day.

The relatives of the murdered man reported the crime to the police, who then arrested the alleged murderers. According to the ongoing investigations, the reason given for the man’s murder was that he had been practising witchcraft. The man’s wife and three children obviously deny the charge. The deputy priest of the church of Saint Anthony of Padua condemned the murder and stated that the man had only very recently converted to Catholicism and had never practised witchcraft. The alleged murderers are all illiterate, extremely uneducated people who believe in superstitions.

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2012)

The High Representative/Vice-President , with the EU Delegation in Delhi, closely monitors acts of religious intolerance and discrimination against minorities in India, and has been following the situation in the state of Orissa very closely since the EU fact-finding mission to the state in 2010 following the 2007 and 2008 communal violence against Christians there.

Concerns in this regard have been raised repeatedly with the Indian authorities, including at the highest possible level, and the subject is systematically discussed during the local annual EU‐India Human Rights Dialogue.

The EU Delegation and EU Member State’s Embassies in Delhi are furthermore in regular contact with local interlocutors and with European NGOs in a number of Indian states in order to monitor the situation of minorities in India, including the situation of Christians. The EU is also closely following developments on rights awareness, police reform, and legislation such as the still-awaited Communal Violence Prevention Bill, and discusses these matters with the authorities.

The preparation of reports for India's upcoming 2012 Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in June has provided an opportunity to take stock of the situation regarding freedom of religion or belief and will be broadly discussed in the run-up to the UPR. In this context the commendable role of India's National Commission for Minorities, which follows these issues and with which the EU Delegation is in regular contact, should be acknowledged.

(Versiunea în limba română)

Întrebarea cu solicitare de răspuns scris E-003245/12

adresată Comisiei

Daciana Octavia Sârbu (S&D)

(26 martie 2012)

Subiect: Situaţia cooperativelor şi organizaţiilor agricole

Situaţia cooperativelor agricole în Uniunea Europeana este foarte diferită de la un stat membru la altul.

Având în vedere procesul de reformare a politicii agricole comune şi reformarea OCP, consideră Comisia oportună publicarea unui raport referitor la situaţia cooperativelor şi a organizaţiilor agricole în Uniunea Europeana până la sfârşitul anului 2012?

Răspuns dat de dl Cioloș în numele Comisiei

(30 aprilie 2012)

Ca urmare a solicitării Parlamentului European, Comisia a lansat proiectul-pilot „Sprijin pentru cooperative agricole” în decembrie 2010.

Durata proiectului este de 23 de luni. În conformitate cu practica standard, Comisia intenționează să publice rezultatele acestui proiect pilot după aprobarea raportului final, în 2013.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003245/12

to the Commission

Daciana Octavia Sârbu (S&D)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: The state of agricultural cooperatives and organisations

The state of agricultural cooperatives in the European Union is very different from one Member State to another.

In view of the common agricultural policy and Common Market Organisation reform process, does the Commission consider that a report on the state of agricultural cooperatives and organisations in the European Union should be published by the end of 2012?

Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2012)

Following a request of the European Parliament, the Commission launched a pilot project on ‘Support for farmers' cooperatives’ in December 2010.

The duration of the project is 23 months. Following the standard practice, the Commission plans to publish the results of this pilot project after the approval of the final report, in 2013.

(Versiunea în limba română)

Întrebarea cu solicitare de răspuns scris E-003246/12

adresată Comisiei

Petru Constantin Luhan (PPE)

(26 martie 2012)

Subiect: Promovarea utilizării conceptului de „silver economy”

Conceptul de „silver economy”, acoperind întreaga gama de activități economice ce vizează produsele sau serviciile din domenii variate, de la sănătate pana la turism, cultură, este considerat ca o posibilă soluție pentru ca regiunile să reușească să gestioneze consecințele îmbătrânirii populației, așa cum apare și în studiul cActive ageing: local and regional solutions” în anul 2011, elaborat pentru Comitetul Regiunilor.

— Există la nivelul Comisiei o analiză în acest sens?

— Există exemple de bună practică ce pot fi diseminate, astfel încât sa fie utilizate la nivel regional?

Răspuns dat de dl Andor în numele Comisiei

(21 mai 2012)

Comisia nu a realizat un studiu dedicat economiei vârstei a treia ca soluție posibilă pentru ca regiunile să poate face față cu succes consecințelor îmbătrânirii populației. Totuși, Comisia a lansat inițiative în mai multe domenii cu scopul stimulării economiei vârstei a treia, asigurând și finanțarea necesară acestora.

Fondul european de dezvoltare regională contribuie cu finanțare la dezvoltarea infrastructurii sociale și de sănătate, precum și în alte domenii de investiții legate de schimbările demografice.

Inițiativa CALYPSO (133) privind schimburile transnaționale de turiști în extrasezon, lansată în 2009, este puternic concentrată pe grupul-țintă reprezentat de persoanele în vârstă (134).

Comisia a lansat Parteneriatul european pentru inovare privind îmbătrânirea activă și în condiții bune de sănătate, menit să încurajeze modernizarea sistemelor de asistență medicală și de îngrijire din Europa și să creeze noi posibilități pentru întreprinderile din UE. Parteneriatul reunește actori-cheie din ciclul inovării și părți interesate angajate în standardizare și reglementare. Scopul său principal este punerea în practică de soluții inovatoare și crearea unui forum care să permită identificarea și depășirea barierelor potențiale din calea inovării, precum și atragerea de cofinanțări în vederea investițiilor în inovare.

Pentru a contribui la economia vârstei a treia, în 2008, 20 de state membre ale UE și 3 țări asociate au lansat actualul Program comun de asistență pentru autonomie la domiciliu („programul comun AAD”), cu un buget minim total de 600 milioane EUR, dintre care 150 milioane EUR din partea Uniunii Europene. Acest program vizează încurajarea apariției de produse, servicii și sisteme inovatoare bazate pe TIC și dedicate îmbătrânirii în bune condiții, precum și îmbunătățirea condițiilor pentru exploatarea economică a acestor produse, servicii și sisteme (135), în special de către IMM-uri.

Programul Cultura sprijină, de asemenea, mai multe proiecte legate de îmbătrânirea activă (136).

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003246/12

to the Commission

Petru Constantin Luhan (PPE)

(26 March 2012)

Subject: Promoting the use of the ‘silver economy’ concept

The ‘silver economy’ concept, covering the entire range of economic activities aimed at products or services in fields including health, tourism and culture, is considered a possible solution for regions to successfully manage the consequences of an ageing population, as is also shown in the study ‘Active ageing: local and regional solutions’, prepared for the Committee of the Regions in 2011.

— Has an analysis of the situation been carried out at Commission level?

— Are there examples of best practice that can be disseminated for use at regional level?

Answer given by Mr Andor on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2012)

The Commission has not carried out a dedicated study on the silver economy as a possible solution for regions to successfully manage the consequences of an ageing population. The Commission has however launched in several areas initiatives with the aim to boost the silver economy and is also providing funding in this respect.

The European Regional Development Fund is contributing funding to developing social and health infrastructure and to other investment areas related to demographic change.

The CALYPSO initiative (137) on low-season transnational tourist exchanges launched in 2009 has a strong focus on seniors as a target group (138).

The Commission has launched the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing which aims to foster modernisation of Europe's health and care systems and create opportunities for EU's businesses. The Partnership brings together key stakeholders in the innovation cycle along with those engaged in standardisation and regulation. It focuses on the implementation of innovative solutions, as well as provides a forum to identify and overcome potential innovations barriers and to seek leverage financing for investments in innovation.

In order to contribute to the silver economy, the current Ambient Assistant Living Joint Programme (AAL JP) was created by 20 EU Member States and 3 associated countries in 2008 with minimum total budget of EUR 600 million, including EUR 150 million from the European Union. It aims at fostering the emergence of innovative ICT-based products, services and systems for ageing well, and improving conditions for the industrial exploitation of those (139), in particular for SMEs.

The Culture Programme supports a number of projects related to active ageing (140).

(Nederlandse versie)

Vraag met verzoek om schriftelijk antwoord P-003247/12

aan de Commissie

Ivo Belet (PPE)

(27 maart 2012)

Betreft: Aanbeveling over het nationale hervormingsprogramma van België

De op 7 juni 2011 door de Europese Commissie geformuleerde en op 12 juli 2011 door de Raad aangenomen aanbeveling over het nationale hervormingsprogramma 2011 van België spoort België aan om „in overleg met de sociale partners en conform de nationale praktijken het systeem voor het voeren van loononderhandelingen en het loonindexeringsysteem te hervormen, teneinde ervoor te zorgen dat de loonstijging beter aansluit bij de ontwikkeling van de arbeidsproductiviteit en het concurrentievermogen”.

De Europese Unie (EU) is samen met de lidstaten verantwoordelijk voor een aantal aspecten van sociaal en werkgelegenheidsbeleid. Het verdrag over de werking van de EU (VWEU), art. 153 (5) bepaalt echter dat de EU geen bevoegdheid heeft aangaande het loonbeleid van de lidstaten. In die zin bepaalt, bijvoorbeeld, Verordening (EU) nr. 1176/2011 van het Europees Parlement en de Raad betreffende de preventie en correctie van macro-economische onevenwichtigheden expliciet dat bij toepassing van deze verordening artikel 152 VWEU ten volle in acht wordt genomen, en dat de onder deze verordening vastgestelde aanbevelingen de nationale praktijken en de instellingen voor loonvorming eerbiedigen. Verder stelt de tekst dat de verordening rekening houdt met artikel 28 van het Handvest van de grondrechten van de Europese Unie en bijgevolg geen afbreuk doet aan het recht om over collectieve arbeidsovereenkomsten te onderhandelen en deze te sluiten en naleving ervan af te dwingen, of om collectieve actie te voeren overeenkomstig de nationale wetgeving en praktijken.

— Is de aanbeveling van de Commissie betreffende de hervorming van zowel het Belgisch systeem voor het voeren van loononderhandelingen als het Belgisch loonindexeringsysteem in die optiek te verzoenen met het primaire recht van de EU?

— Meent de Commissie dat deze aanbevelingen stroken met de bepalingen uit Verordening (EU) nr. 1176/2011?

Antwoord van de heer Rehn namens de Commissie

(26 april 2012)

De beperking die is vervat in artikel 153, lid 5, van het VWEU betreft alleen de initiatieven in de tekst van het artikel zelf, niet de aanbevelingen aan de Raad overeenkomstig artikel 121, lid 2, en artikel 148, lid 4, van het VWEU, die de rechtsgrond verschaffen voor de aanbeveling aan België.

De aanbeveling is niet gebaseerd op Verordening (EU) nr. 1176/2011, die in werking is getreden op 13 december 2011.

Zoals bepaald in artikel 51 van het Handvest, moeten de Unie en de lidstaten de bepalingen van het Handvest naleven wanneer zij het recht van de Unie ten uitvoer leggen. Deze bepaling betreft onder meer het recht op collectieve onderhandelingen uit hoofde van artikel 28.

(English version)

Question for written answer P-003247/12

to the Commission

Ivo Belet (PPE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Recommendation on the National Reform Programme of Belgium

The recommendation on Belgium’s 2011 National Reform Programme, drafted by the European Commission on 7 June 2011 and adopted by the Council on 12 July 2011, encourages Belgium ‘to reform, in consultation with the social partners and in accordance with national practice, the system of wage bargaining and wage indexation, to ensure that wage growth better reflects developments in labour productivity and competitiveness’.

The European Union, together with the Member States, is responsible for a number of social and employment policy aspects. However, Article 153(5) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) stipulates that the EU does not have any jurisdiction regarding the wage policy of Member States. In this regard, for example, Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council on the prevention and correction of macroeconomic imbalances, stipulates explicitly that the application of this regulation will fully observe Article 152 TFEU, and that the recommendations issued under this regulation will respect the national practices and institutions for fixing wages. The text also states that the regulation takes into account Article 28 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and, accordingly, is not detrimental to the right to negotiate, conclude or enforce collective labour agreements, or to take collective action in accordance with the national law and practices.

— In this respect, is the Commission’s recommendation on the reform of the Belgian system for conducting wage negotiations, as well as the Belgian wage indexation system, compatible with the primary law of the EU?

— Does the Commission believe that these recommendations are consistent with the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011?

Answer given by Mr Rehn on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2012)

The limitation included in Article 153(5) TFEU only pertains to the initiatives in the article itself not to the Council recommendations under Articles 121(2) and 148(4) TFEU, which provide the legal basis for the recommendation to Belgium.

The recommendation is not founded in Regulation (EU) No 1176/2011, which came into force on 13 December 2011.

As laid down in Article 51 of the Charter, the Union and the Member States shall respect the provisions of the Charter when they are implementing Union law and these provisions include the right to collective bargaining under Article 28.

(Dansk udgave)

Forespørgsel til skriftlig besvarelse E-003250/12

til Kommissionen

Jens Rohde (ALDE)

(27. marts 2012)

Om: Implementering af krydsoverensstemmelsesprincippet

Ifølge TV/MIDT-VEST mandag den 26. marts 2012 er en dansk landmand blevet trukket 3 % i sin landbrugsstøtte for 2011 af den danske Kulturarvsstyrelse for at have pløjet for tæt på en gravhøj på sin mark. Ifølge den danske museumslovs § 29f må der ikke ₻foretages jordbehandling, gødes eller plantes på fortidsminder inden for en afstand af 2 meter₫.

Bøden er således idømt for en overtrædelse af en kulturarvsbestemmelse i en udelukkende national lov, som ikke hviler på EU‐retten. De danske myndigheder henviser imidlertid til krydsoverensstemmelsesprincippet i EU's forordning (EF) nr. 73/2009 om fælles regler for den fælles landbrugspolitiks ordninger, nærmere bestemt bilag III om betingelser for god landbrugs‐ og miljømæssig stand som omhandlet i artikel 6. Denne artikel forpligter medlemsstaterne til at sikre, at landbrugsjorden holdes i god landbrugs‐ og miljømæssig stand, ligesom den fastslår, at medlemsstaterne ikke må fastsætte minimumskrav, der ikke er fastsat i forordningens rammer.

Mener Kommissionen — eftersom den danske museumslov på ingen måde vedrører landbrugsjordens stand, men udelukkende har til formål at bevare den danske kulturarv — at der er hjemmel i EU's forordning (EF) nr. 73/2009 til at anvende krydsoverensstemmelse til at sanktionere en landmand for en overtrædelse af denne lov? I fald Kommissionen ikke mener, at der er hjemmel hertil, hvilke skridt agter den da at tage overfor Danmark?

Svar afgivet på Kommissionens vegne af Dacian Ciolos

(4. maj 2012)

I henhold til artikel 6 i forordning (EF) nr. 73/2009 (141) påhviler det medlemsstaterne at sikre, at al landbrugsjord holdes i god landbrugs‐ og miljømæssig stand (GLM). Medlemsstaterne fastsætter kravene herfor på grundlag af de rammer, der er opstillet i bilag III til forordning (EF) nr. 73/2009.

Til dette formål skal der fastsættes en norm for ₻bevarelse af landskabstræk, herunder eventuelt hække, vandhuller, grøfter og træer i rækker, i grupper eller enkeltstående og markbræmmer₫.

Som angivet i artikel 6 i forordning (EF) nr. 73/2009 har medlemsstaterne dog et vist spillerum til at målrette de minimumskrav eller elementer, som GLM skal tilgodese, ₻idet der tages hensyn til de pågældende områders særlige karakteristika, herunder jordbunds‐ og klimaforhold, eksisterende landbrugssystemer, arealanvendelse, vekseldrift, landbrugspraksis og landbrugsstrukturer ₫.

Reglerne, som det ærede medlem beskriver, er registreret af de danske myndigheder på baggrund af ovennævnte juridiske bestemmelser med henblik på at opfylde kravet om bevarelse af landskabstræk.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003250/12

to the Commission

Jens Rohde (ALDE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Implementation of the cross-compliance principle

According to TV/MIDT-VEST (a Danish regional TV channel), on Monday, 26 March 2012, a Danish farmer had 3 % deducted from his 2011 agricultural aid by the Heritage Agency of Denmark for ploughing too close to a burial mound on his field. According to Section 29f of the Danish Museum Act, ‘soil treatment, the application of fertiliser and planting are prohibited on ancient relics or monuments and within a distance of 2 m from them’.

The fine has thus been levied for the infringement of a provision in exclusively national cultural legislation which is not bound by EC law. The Danish authority, however, refers to the cross-compliance principle under Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 of 19 January 2009 establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy, and in particular under Annex III on good agricultural and environmental conditions referred to in Article 6. This article obliges Member States to ensure that all agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition and also stipulates that Member States must not define minimum requirements which are not foreseen in the framework of the regulation.

Does the Commission think — given that the Danish Museum Act does not in any way concern itself with agricultural conditions, but is purely concerned with preserving Danish cultural heritage — that there are any grounds under Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 to use cross-compliance to sanction a farmer for an infringement of this Act? If the Commission believes that there are no grounds for this, what action does the Commission intend to take with regard to Denmark?

Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2012)

Pursuant to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009 (142), Member States shall ensure that agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition (GAEC). Member States define requirements based on the standards in Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009.

For this purpose, one standard has to be determined concerning ‘retention of landscape features, including, where appropriate, hedges, ponds, ditches, trees in line, in groups or isolated, and field margins’.

As foreseen by Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 73/2009, Member States have nevertheless some flexibility for targeting the minimum requirements or elements to be covered by GAEC, especially ‘taking into account the specific characteristics of the areas concerned, including soil and climatic condition, existing farming systems, land use, crop rotation, farming practices, and farm structures’.

It is based on this legal framework that the rules described by the honourable member have been registered by the Danish authorities, in order to satisfy the requirement for a GAEC on retention of landscape features.

(Dansk udgave)

Forespørgsel til skriftlig besvarelse E-003251/12

til Kommissionen

Jens Rohde (ALDE)

(27. marts 2012)

Om: Interkalibrering af vandløb

Vandrammedirektivet (2000/60/EF) forpligter EU's medlemsstater til at opstille metoder til at vurdere vandområders økologiske tilstand.

For at sikre, at medlemsstaternes vurderingsmetoder giver ensartede resultater i forhold til at opfylde direktivets miljømål om god tilstand, er medlemsstaterne forpligtet til at deltage i en interkalibrering af værdierne for grænselinjerne mellem klasserne ₻høj og god₫ tilstand og mellem klasserne ₻god og moderat₫ tilstand.

Kommissionen forestår denne interkalibrering og offentliggør efterfølgende resultatet.

Ved en gennemgang af de indmeldte vandløbsklassificeringer nord og syd for den dansk-tyske grænse ses meget store forskelle i antallet af udpegede vandløb, som skal opfylde målet om god økologisk tilstand. Således er der i Nordtyskland 15‐20 % målsatte vandløb, mens der i Danmark er 70‐80 % målsatte vandløb på arealer, som topografisk og hydrologisk er sammenlignelige med de nordtyske arealer.

Kan Kommissionen oplyse, hvorfor der forekommer en sådan variation i klassificeringen, når formålet med interkalibreringen netop har været at give ensartede resultater i forhold til at opfylde direktivets målsætninger?

Svar afgivet på Kommissionens vegne af Janez Potočnik

(6. juni 2012)

De danske vandområdeplaner, som er udarbejdet i overenstemmelse med Vandrammedirektivets artikel 13 (143), blev vedtaget og indberettet til Kommissionen i december 2011.

Det fastsættes i direktivet, at medlemsstaterne foretager en interkalibrering med støtte fra Kommissionen for at sikre, at resultatetne af medlemsstaternes vurderingsmetoder er sammenlignelige og i overensstemmelse med de normgivende definitioner. Resultaterne af interkalibreringen blev offentliggjort ved Kommissionens beslutning 2008/915/EF (144). Interkalibreringens anden fase afsluttes i 2012, og resultaterne vil blive offentliggjort senere i 2012.

Kommissionen er ikke bekendt med den gennemgang, som det ærede medlem omtaler.

Kommissionen vurderer i øjeblikket de vandområdeplaner, som er indberettet af medlemsstaterne, og den vil offentliggøre resultaterne i november 2012 som en del af strategien for beskyttelse af EU's vandressourcer. Vurderingen omfatter bl.a. hvordan medlemsstaterne har opfyldt forpligtelsen til at overvåge og vurdere vandområdernes økologiske tilstand, samt hvordan de har omsat resultaterne af interkalibreringen i deres vurderingsmetoder.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003251/12

to the Commission

Jens Rohde (ALDE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Intercalibration of water courses

The Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) obliges Member States to establish methods for assessing the ecological status of bodies of water.

In order to ensure that Member States’ assessment methods show uniform results in relation to meeting the environmental objectives in the directive for good status, Member States are obliged to participate in intercalibration of values for the borders between ‘high’ and ‘good’ status and between ‘good’ and ‘moderate’ status.

The Commission will undertake this intercalibration and will publish the subsequent result.

An inspection of the submitted water course classifications north and south of the Danish-German border shows very great differences in the number of designated water courses that have to meet the objective of good ecological status. Thus, in northern Germany, 15‐20 % of water courses are designated, while in Denmark, 70‐80 % of water courses are designated in areas that are topographically and hydrologically comparable with the northern German areas.

Can the Commission explain why there is this variation in classification, when the intention of intercalibration was specifically to achieve uniform results in order to fulfil the objectives of the directive?

Answer given by Mr Potočnik on behalf of the Commission

(6 June 2012)

The Danish River Basin Management Plans prepared according to Article 13 of the Water Framework Directive (145) were adopted and reported to the Commission in December 2011.

The directive foresees that Member States undertake an intercalibration exercise, facilitated by the Commission, to ensure that the results of the assessment methods of the Member States are comparable and consistent with the normative definitions. The results of the intercalibration exercise were published as Commission Decision 2008/915/EC (146). A second phase of intercalibration is coming to an end in 2012 and the results will be published later in 2012.

The Commission is not aware of the inspection mentioned by the Honourable Member.

The Commission is currently assessing the River Basin Management Plans reported by the Member States and will publish its findings in November 2012 as part of the Blueprint to Safeguard Europe's Water Resources. The assessment covers, inter alia, how the Member States have implemented the obligations to monitor and assess the ecological status of water bodies and how they have translated the results of the intercalibration exercise into their assessment methods.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003252/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Nikos Chrysogelos (Verts/ALE)

(27 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Συνεργασία και συνοχή μεταξύ των υπηρεσιών της Επιτροπής στο θέμα της ελληνικής κρίσης

Η προωθούμενη σήμερα πολιτική αντιμετώπισης της ελληνικής κρίσης αποτυγχάνει τόσο εξαιτίας διαρθρωτικών προβλημάτων της ελληνικής οικονομίας κι αναποτελεσματικότητας του πολιτικού συστήματος και της διοίκησης, όσο όμως και εξαιτίας της λανθασμένης πολιτικής που επιβάλλει η τρόικα, εμμένοντας σε μια σκληρή πολιτική μονόπλευρης λιτότητας και περικοπών. Η μείωση των δαπανών του κράτους, κυρίως χάρη στη δραματική μείωση μισθών, συντάξεων και κοινωνικών παροχών, σε πολύ μικρότερο βαθμό λόγω μεταρρυθμίσεων ή αντιμετώπισης της φοροδιαφυγής, υπερκαλύπτεται από την αναγκαστική αύξηση δαπανών για ενίσχυση των ασφαλιστικών ταμείων -ιδιαίτερα του Ιδρύματος Κρατικών Ασφαλίσεων (ΙΚΑ)- που κινδυνεύουν να καταρρεύσουν, λόγω μείωσης των εσόδων τους ως αποτέλεσμα της βαθιάς ύφεσης (147), της αύξησης της ανεργίας (148) και της μείωσης των μισθών (149). Αυτή η αύξηση των δαπανών για το δίμηνο Ιανουαρίου-Φεβρουαρίου 2012 ανέρχεται στο 1,5 %, ενώ προβλεπόταν μείωση κατά 8 %, εξαιτίας κυρίως της υπέρβασης των πρωτογενών δαπανών κατά 774 εκ. για ασφάλιση, περίθαλψη και κοινωνική προστασία, καθώς και για επιχορήγηση στο ΙΚΑ κατά 619 εκατ. ευρώ με σκοπό την αναπλήρωση της μείωσης των εσόδων από ασφαλιστικές εισφορές (150). Οι εν λόγω αυξήσεις δαπανών υπερκάλυψαν τη σημαντική μείωση των υπολοίπων κατηγοριών των δαπανών κατά 568 εκατ. ευρώ σε σχέση με την αντίστοιχη περίοδο του 2011, που προήλθε από μείωση δαπανών για μισθούς και λειτουργικά έξοδα στο δημόσιο.

Ερωτάται η Επιτροπή:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0055:FIN:EL:PDF

Απάντηση του κ. Rehn εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(7 Μαΐου 2012)

Οι εκπρόσωποι της Επιτροπής στην τρόικα εργάζονται υπό την καθοδήγηση του Αντιπροέδρου της Επιτροπής που είναι αρμόδιος για τις οικονομικές και νομισματικές υποθέσεις και το ευρώ. Πριν από τη λήψη οποιασδήποτε θέσης σχετικά με το πρόγραμμα οικονομικής προσαρμογής για την Ελλάδα, διεξάγονται οι αναγκαίες διαβουλεύσεις μεταξύ όλων των αρμοδίων υπηρεσιών, κατά τον ίδιο τρόπο που διεξάγονται οι διαβουλεύσεις για όλες τις πράξεις της Επιτροπής. Η προσέγγιση αυτή αντικατοπτρίζεται όχι μόνο στο Μνημόνιο Συνεννόησης αλλά και στην πρόσφατη ανακοίνωση της Επιτροπής με τίτλο ₫Ανάπτυξη στην Ελλάδα₻ (151).

Η Επιτροπή υποστηρίζει και προωθεί τη διαφάνεια και τον διάλογο στις εργασίες της και συνεργάζεται με όλα τα θεσμικά όργανα της ΕΕ, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του Κοινοβουλίου. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, ο Αντιπρόεδρος που είναι αρμόδιος για τις οικονομικές και νομισματικές υποθέσεις και το ευρώ εμφανίστηκε πρόσφατα στην κοινή συνεδρίαση της Κοινοβουλευτικής Επιτροπής Οικονομικών και Νομισματικών Υποθέσεων και Απασχόλησης και Κοινωνικών Υποθέσεων, στο πλαίσιο ακρόασης για την Ελλάδα.

Η Επιτροπή καταβάλλει επίσης προσπάθειες για την προώθηση της διαφάνειας και του διαλόγου με τη δημοσίευση τριμηνιαίων εκθέσεων για την εφαρμογή του ελληνικού προγράμματος προσαρμογής (βλ.: http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/occasional_paper/2012/op94_en.htm).

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003252/12

to the Commission

Nikos Chrysogelos (Verts/ALE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Cooperation and cohesion between Commission services on the Greek crisis issue

The policy currently being promoted to tackle the Greek crisis is failing both because of structural problems in the Greek economy, the ineffectiveness of the political system and administration, and also because of the Troika’s misguided policy of persisting with a harsh policy of one-sided austerity and cuts. The reduction in state expenditure, mainly due to the dramatic reductions in wages, pensions and social benefits, and to a much smaller degree, due to reforms and attempts to combat tax evasion, has been more than offset by the forced increase in expenditure to boost insurance funds — especially the Social Insurance Institute (IKA) — which are in danger of collapsing due to a reduction in their income as a result of the deep recession (152), the increase in unemployment (153) and the reduction in wages (154). This increase in expenditure over the two-month period of January‐February 2012 amounts to 1.5 %, where a reduction of 8 % had been forecast, mainly due to the fact that there was an overrun of EUR 774 million in primary expenditure on insurance, healthcare and social protection, as well as the subsidy of EUR 619 million to IKA to offset the reduction in income from insurance contributions (155). These increases in expenditure more than outweigh the significant reduction in the remaining expenditure categories by EUR 568 million, compared to the same period in 2011, achieved through cutting public sector wages and operating expenditure.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0055:FIN:EN:PDF

Answer given by Mr Rehn on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2012)

The representatives of the Commission in the Troika work under the direction of the Vice-President of the Commission for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro. The necessary consultation takes place between all the relevant services prior to any position being taken on the economic adjustment programme for Greece, in the same way as consultation takes place for all the acts of the Commission. This approach is reflected not only in the MoU but also in the Commission's recent Communication ‘Growth in Greece’ (156).

The Commission supports and promotes transparency and dialogue in its work and cooperates with all the EU institutions, including the Parliament. In this context the Vice-President for Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Euro has recently appeared at the joint meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and on Employment and Social Affairs in a hearing on Greece.

The Commission has also promoted transparency and dialogue by publishing detailed quarterly reports on the implementation of the Greek adjustment programme (see: http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/publications/occasional_paper/2012/op94_en.htm).

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003253/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Nikos Chrysogelos (Verts/ALE)

(27 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Φτώχεια και βίαιες περικοπές συντάξεων

Η μείωση των δαπανών του ελληνικού κράτους στο πλαίσιο της δημοσιονομικής προσαρμογής (157) επιδιώκεται με πολύ βίαιη περικοπή μισθών και συντάξεων, κάτι που συντελεί στην μείωση του διαθέσιμου εισοδήματος κάτω από το όριο της αξιοπρεπούς διαβίωσης και στην αύξηση της φτώχειας μεγάλου τμήματος του πληθυσμού. Ταυτόχρονα ενισχύει τον φαύλο κύκλο της ύφεσης στην οικονομία και αποδεικνύεται οικονομικά-δημοσιονομικά αναποτελεσματική. Αυτή η πολιτική αντιστρατεύεται όμως και βασικές ευρωπαϊκές πολιτικές όπως: (α) την πολιτική για επαρκείς, ασφαλείς και βιώσιμες συντάξεις (158), (β) την στρατηγική ΕΥΡΩΠΗ 2020, στο πλαίσιο της οποίας προβλέπεται μείωση της φτώχειας και μάλιστα, στην ελληνική περίπτωση, μείωση των φτωχών κατά περίπου 450 000 μέχρι το 2020 (159).

Με δεδομένο ότι (α) η προωθούμενη πολιτική, με ευθύνη και της Επιτροπής, έχει αποτύχει να αντιμετωπίσει μέχρι τώρα τις αιτίες της ελληνικής κρίσης εστιάζοντας μονομερώς σε μια πολιτική αυστηρής λιτότητας και σε μέτρα που έχουν μεγάλο κοινωνικό — οικονομικό κόστος για τους έλληνες πολίτες και τους ευρωπαίους φορολογούμενους, και (β) οι συντάξεις στην Ελλάδα (παρά τα όποια διαρθρωτικά προβλήματα υπήρχαν στο σύστημα) συμβάλλουν σημαντικά στη μείωση της φτώχειας (κατά 19 %, σύμφωνα με τα τελευταία διαθέσιμα στοιχεία) (160), ερωτάται η Επιτροπή:

Απάντηση του κ. Rehn εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(22 Μαΐου 2012)

Η μεταρρύθμιση του συνταξιοδοτικού συστήματος που εγκρίθηκε από το Eλληνικό Κοινοβούλιο τον Ιούλιο του 2010 απλοποίησε το έντονα κατακερματισμένο συνταξιοδοτικό σύστημα, ενίσχυσε τη διαφάνεια και τη δικαιοσύνη, αύξησε τα όρια συνταξιοδότησης και μείωσε αισθητά τα επιδόματα.

Με τη μεταρρύθμιση καθιερώθηκε νέα βασική σύνταξη ύψους 360 ευρώ το μήνα. Για όσους έχουν εισφορές λιγότερες από 15 έτη και, συνεπώς, δεν δικαιούνται ανταποδοτική σύνταξη, η βασική σύνταξη χορηγείται με βάση τους πόρους διαβίωσης του δικαιούχου και συνιστά ένα σημαντικό κοινωνικό δίχτυ ασφαλείας.

Οι στόχοι του νέου οικονομικού προγράμματος προσαρμογής, το οποίο αποτέλεσε αντικείμενο διαπραγμάτευσης μεταξύ της Ελλάδας και της Επιτροπής (161), της ΕΚΤ και του ΔΝΤ, είναι να διασφαλισθεί η δημοσιονομική βιωσιμότητα, να αποκατασταθεί η ανταγωνιστικότητα και να διασφαλισθεί η χρηματοπιστωτική σταθερότητα.

Δεδομένης της ανάγκης να συνεχιστεί η μείωση του δημοσιονομικού ελλείμματος, η Ελλάδα αποφάσισε να μειώσει τις υψηλότερες συντάξεις και να αντιμετωπίσει την από φορολογική άποψη μη βιώσιμη κατάσταση των καθεστώτων επικουρικής σύνταξης. Οι κύριες συντάξεις άνω των 1 300/μήνα μειώνονται κατά 12 %· οι επικουρικές συντάξεις 200-250 ευρώ μειώνονται κατά 10 %, οι επικουρικές συντάξεις 250-300 ευρώ μειώνονται κατά 15 % και οι επικουρικές συντάξεις άνω των 300 ευρώ μειώνονται κατά 20 % (162).

Το συνταξιοδοτικό σύστημα πρέπει να εδράζεται σε μια βιώσιμη οικονομικά βάση προκειμένου να παρέχει στους συνταξιούχους μακροπρόθεσμα επαρκείς και ασφαλείς συντάξεις. Ο αντίκτυπος της μεταρρύθμισης μετριάζεται σε κάποιο βαθμό με την καθιέρωση της βασικής σύνταξης, η οποία αντιμετωπίζει αποτελεσματικά περιπτώσεις συνταξιούχων έσχατης ένδειας. Επιπλέον, οι πρόσφατες περικοπές αφορούν τις υψηλότερες συντάξεις (κύρια και επικουρική) και, συνεπώς, δεν επηρεάζουν όσους παίρνουν χαμηλές συντάξεις. Μετριάζεται επίσης ο αντίκτυπος των μεταρρυθμίσεων όσον αφορά τα συνταξιοδοτικά επιδόματα. Η αύξηση των ορίων συνταξιοδότησης, υπό την προϋπόθεση βελτίωσης των δυνατοτήτων απασχόλησης των εργαζομένων μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας, θα συμβάλει επίσης στη διασφάλιση της οικονομικής βιωσιμότητας χωρίς να χρειαστεί να μειωθούν άλλο οι συντάξεις.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003253/12

to the Commission

Nikos Chrysogelos (Verts/ALE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Poverty and drastic pension cuts

The Greek State is reducing its expenditure, as part of financial adjustment measures (163), by way of very drastic cuts in wages and pensions, which is lowering available income below a decent subsistence level and consigning a large proportion of the population to poverty. This intervention merely reinforces the vicious circle of recession in the economy: it is economically and financially ineffectual. The policy also contradicts basic European policies, such as (a) the policy on adequate, safe and sustainable pensions (164), and (b) the Europe 2020 strategy, which aims at reducing poverty and, in the Greek context, seeks by the year 2020 to reduce by about 450 000 the number of people living in poverty (165).

Given that (a) the current policy, for which the Commission bears responsibility, has so far failed to address the reasons for the Greek crisis, focusing unilaterally on a policy of austerity and measures with a high socioeconomic cost for Greek citizens and the European taxpayer, and that (b) pensions in Greece (despite whatever structural problems affected the system) contribute significantly to reducing poverty (by 19 %, according to the latest data) (166), will the Commission say:

Answer given by Mr Rehn on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2012)

The pension reform adopted by the Greek Parliament in July 2010 simplified the highly fragmented pension system; enhanced transparency and fairness, postponed the retirement age and decreased the generosity of benefits.

The reform introduced a new basic pension of EUR 360/month. For those with less of 15 years of contributions, and thus not eligible for the contributory pension, the basic pension is means-tested, and provides an important social safety net.

The objectives of the new economic adjustment programme that has been negotiated between Greece, and the Commission (167), the ECB and the IMF are to ensure fiscal sustainability, restore competitiveness and guarantee financial stability.

Given the need to continue reducing the government deficit, Greece has decided to reduce the highest pensions, and to address the fiscally unsustainable situation of the supplementary pension schemes. Main pensions above EUR 1300/month will be cut by 12 %; supplementary pensions between EUR 200-250 by 10 %, supplementary pensions between EUR 250-300 by 15 %, and above EUR 300 by 20 % (168).

The pension system has to stand on a financially sustainable footing in order to provide pensioners with adequate and safe pensions over the long run. The impact of the reform is being mitigated to some extent by the introduction of the basic pensions which effectively combats the most extreme poverty amongst pensioners. Furthermore, the recent cuts are directed to the highest (main and supplementary) pensions and, therefore, do not impact on the less well-off segment of pensioners. This also mitigates the impact of the reforms on the adequacy of pension benefits. Increasing retirement age will, subject to an improvement in the employment opportunities for older workers, also help to ensure financial sustainability without having to further weaken the adequacy of pensions.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003255/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Kriton Arsenis (S&D)

(27 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Η συμβατότητα των δραστηριοτήτων φαλαινοθηρίας στην Ισλανδία με τη νομοθεσία της ΕΕ και με τα κριτήρια προσχώρησης

Το 1982, η Διεθνής Επιτροπή Φαλαινοθηρίας (ΔΕΦ) υιοθέτησε ένα δικαιοστάσιο σχετικά με την φαλαινοθηρία για εμπορικούς σκοπούς. Παρά το εν λόγω δικαιοστάσιο, η Νορβηγία, η Ισλανδία και η Ιαπωνία εξακολουθούν να αναπτύσσουν φαλαινοθηρικές δραστηριότητες για εμπορικούς σκοπούς είτε προβάλλοντας αντιρρήσεις/επιφυλάξεις για το δικαιοστάσιο είτε επικαλούμενες επιστημονικούς σκοπούς. Επιπλέον, στο παράρτημα IV της οδηγίας της ΕΕ για τους οικοτόπους απαριθμούνται όλα τα κητοειδή για τα οποία προβλέπεται καθεστώς αυστηρής προστασίας που περιλαμβάνει, μεταξύ άλλων, ₫την απαγόρευση της κατοχής, της μεταφοράς και της πώλησης/ανταλλαγής των δειγμάτων ειδών που έχουν συλληφθεί στο φυσικό περιβάλλον₻. Η ΕΕ ακολουθεί μια ενιαία γραμμή υποστηρίζοντας με συνέπεια τη διατήρηση του δικαιοστασίου και κατά τις ετήσιες συνόδους της ΔΕΦ έχει εκφράσει την αντίθεσή της για διάφορα νέα είδη φαλαινοθηρίας που περιλαμβάνουν διεθνή εμπορική δραστηριότητα.

Σύμφωνα με την Δανική προεδρία, αν και με αργούς ρυθμούς, η διαδικασία προσχώρησης της Ισλανδίας στην ΕΕ σημειώνει πρόοδο. Πιθανότατα τον Ιούνιο του 2012 θα ξεκινήσουν οι διαπραγματεύσεις για το περιβάλλον και τότε θα τεθούν επί τάπητος οι δραστηριότητες φαλαινοθηρίας της Ισλανδίας. Σε αντίθεση με το ΗΒ, τις Κάτω Χώρες και την Νορβηγία, η Ισλανδία δεν έχει μακρά ιστορία στις δραστηριότητες βιομηχανικής φαλαινοθηρίας. Η σύγχρονη θήρα μεγάλων φαλαινών εισήχθη στην Ισλανδία από τη Νορβηγία το 1883. Η μεγάλης κλίμακας εμπορική φαλαινοθηρία ξεκίνησε μόλις το 1948 και συνεχίζεται υποστηριζόμενη θερμά από την Ιαπωνία, χώρα εξαγωγής των προϊόντων. Μετά την απαγόρευση της φαλαινοθηρίας το 1989, η Ισλανδία ξεκίνησε και πάλι να αναπτύσσει δραστηριότητες φαλαινοθηρίας το 2006, με ποσόστωση 9 φαλαινοπτέρων και 40 ρυγχοφαλαινών.

Απάντηση του κ. Füle εξ ονόματος της Επιτροπής

(15 Μαΐου 2012)

Η Επιτροπή γνωρίζει ότι η ισχύουσα νομοθεσία της Ισλανδίας επιτρέπει φαλαινοθηρικές επιχειρήσεις εμπορικής φύσης.

Η Επιτροπή επιβεβαιώνει την πλήρη δέσμευσή της για την προστασία όλων των κητοειδών (φάλαινες, δελφίνια και φώκαινες) και, σ’ αυτό το πλαίσιο, παραπέμπει το Αξιότιμο Μέλος στην απάντηση της σε προηγούμενη γραπτή ερώτηση E-006168/2011 από τον κ. Casa (169) στην οποία η Επιτροπή εξέφρασε την άποψη ότι οι φαλαινοθηρικές δραστηριότητες εμπορικής φύσης από πλευράς της Ισλανδίας δεν είναι συμβατές με την νομοθεσία της ΕΕ και με τη θέση της ΕΕ στην Διεθνή Επιτροπή Φαλαινοθηρίας. Κατά τη στιγμή της προσχώρησης, η Ισλανδία θα πρέπει να συμμορφώνεται με το κεκτημένο για την προστασία της φύσης σχετικά με την προστασία της φάλαινας.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003255/12

to the Commission

Kriton Arsenis (S&D)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Icelandic whaling activities are incompatible with EU legislation and accession criteria

In 1982, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) adopted a moratorium on commercial whaling. Despite this moratorium, Norway, Iceland and Japan have continued whaling for commercial purposes, either under an objection/reservation to the moratorium decision or under the guise of ‘scientific whaling’. Moreover, the EU Habitats Directive lists all cetaceans in Annex IV, which affords them strict protection including ‘prohibiting the keeping, transport and sale or exchange … of specimens taken from the wild’. The EU common position has consistently supported the maintenance of the moratorium and has, during the annual meetings of the IWC, opposed any new types of whaling that involve international trade.

According to the Danish Presidency, the accession of Iceland to the EU is progressing, albeit slowly. In June 2012, the negotiation chapter on the environment will most probably be opened, at which time Icelandic whaling activities will be discussed. Unlike the UK, Netherlands and Norway, Iceland does not have a long history of industrial whaling. Modern whaling for large whales was introduced in Iceland from Norway in 1883. Large-scale commercial whaling only began in 1948, and has continued with strong support from Japan, to which the products were exported. After ceasing whaling in 1989, Iceland resumed commercial whaling in 2006, with a quota of 9 fin whales and 40 minke whales.

Answer given by Mr Füle on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2012)

The Commission is well aware of the fact that Iceland's current legislation allows commercial whaling operations.

The Commission reaffirms its full commitment to the protection of all cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and in this context it refers the Honourable Member to the reply to previous Written Question E‐006168/2011 by Mr Casa (170) in which the Commission expressed the view that commercial whaling operations carried out by Iceland would not be compatible with EC law and with the position taken by the EU at the International Whaling Commission. At the time of accession, Iceland will need to comply with the nature protection acquis as regards protection of whales.

(Dansk udgave)

Forespørgsel til skriftlig besvarelse E-003256/12

til Kommissionen

Anna Rosbach (ECR)

(27. marts 2012)

Om: Skattestatus for landbrugskooperativer i EU

Mit spørgsmål handler om, i hvilket omfang landbrugssektoren i EU har lige konkurrencevilkår. I Europa spiller landbrugskooperativer en nøglerolle inden for distributionen af mad, hvor to modeller står over for hinanden:

Det vurderes eksempelvis, at skattefritagelsen for franske kooperativer beløber sig til ca. 2 mia. EUR om året. Når man sammenligner den ₻sydlige₫ og den ₻nordlige₫ model, står det klart, at en afhængighed af skattefritagelser resulterer i et tab af konkurrenceevne, hvilket er i strid med det, som Europa p.t. er interesseret i.

₻en mere fordelagtig skattemæssig behandling af kooperativer være i overensstemmelse med principperne om konsekvens og proportionalitet₫?

Svar afgivet på Kommissionens vegne af Joaquin Almunia

(21. maj 2012)

Som skitseret i Kommissionens meddelelse af 23. februar 2004 om fremme af andelsselskaber, så spiller kooperativer en meget vigtig rolle i Europas landbrugssektor (171).

Under henvisning til Den Europæiske Unions Domstols nyligt afsagte dom i sag C‐78/08-C‐80/08 om mulig statsstøtte til produktions‐ og arbejdsandelsselskaber, har Domstolen mindet om, at det efter at have fastslået det relevante referencesystem er nødvendigt at afgøre, om sådanne andelsselskaber står i en situation, der faktuelt og juridisk er sammenlignelig med den, kommercielle virksomheder befinder sig i. Er dette tilfældet, skal det fastsættes, om den skattemæssige begunstigelse af andelsselskaber er retfærdiggjort af skattesystemets logik. I henhold til Domstolen er en sådan skattemæssig begunstigelse retfærdiggjort, hvis den for det første udgør en iboende del af den pågældende medlemsstats skattesystems grundlæggende principper, og for det andet er i overensstemmelse med principperne om konsekvens og proportionalitet. I den forbindelse understregede Domstolen, at de pågældende medlemsstater skal implementere og gennemføre passende kontrol‐ og overvågningsprocedurer for at sikre, at andelsselskabers specifikke skattemæssige fordele er konsekvente med logikken i skattesystemet, og for at forhindre at erhvervsvirksomheder vælger netop denne selskabsform med det ene formål at udnytte de skattefordele, denne type virksomheder nyder godt af. For at den skattemæssige begunstigelse er retfærdiggjort i overensstemmelse med skattesystemet generelt eller dets natur, er det desuden også nødvendigt at sikre, at skattemæssige fritagelser er konsekvente med proportionalitetsprincippet og ikke rækker længere end nødvendigt, idet det legitime formål ikke kan opnås ved foranstaltninger af mindre omfang.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003256/12

to the Commission

Anna Rosbach (ECR)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Fiscal status of agricultural cooperatives in the EU

My question refers to the extent to which the agricultural sector in the EU presents a level playing field. In Europe, agricultural cooperatives play a key part in the distribution of food, with two models confronting each other:

For example, the tax exemptions for French cooperatives amount to an estimated EUR 2 billion a year. When comparing the ‘southern’ and ‘northern’ models, it becomes clear that a dependence on tax exemptions results in a loss of competitiveness, quite the opposite of what Europe is currently looking for.

‘the more advantageous tax treatment enjoyed by cooperatives must comply with the principles of consistency and proportionality’?

Answer given by Mr Almunia on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2012)

As outlined in the Commission communication of 23 February 2004 on the promotion of cooperative societies, cooperatives play a very important role in the agricultural sector in Europe (172).

With reference to the recent judgment of the Court of Justice in Cases C-78/08 to C-80/08, concerning the possible existence of state aid to producers' and workers' cooperatives, the Court recalled that after having determined the applicable reference system, it is necessary to determine if such cooperatives are in a comparable factual and legal situation to that of commercial companies. If this is the case, it should then be established whether the preferential tax treatment for cooperatives is justified by the logic of the tax system. According to the Court, such a preferential tax treatment is justified if, first, it forms an inherent part of the essential principles of the tax system applicable in the Member State concerned and, second, if it complies with the principles of consistency and proportionality. In this respect, the Court underlined that the Member State concerned has to introduce and apply appropriate control and monitoring procedures in order to ensure that specific tax measures enjoyed by cooperative societies are consistent with the logic of the tax system and to prevent economic entities from choosing that particular legal form for the sole purpose of taking advantage of the tax benefits provided for that kind of undertaking. Moreover, in order for tax exemptions to be justified by the nature or general scheme of the tax system, it is also necessary to ensure that those exemptions are consistent with the principle of proportionality and do not go beyond what is necessary, in that the legitimate objective being pursued could not be attained by less far-reaching measures.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003257/12

to the Commission

Roger Helmer (EFD)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Production and wholesale of electricity in Germany

I was rather surprised by an implementing decision which appears to exempt Germany from the normal EU rules on public procurement with regard to its electricity sector: this is the ‘Draft Commission Implementing Decision exempting the production and wholesale of electricity produced from conventional sources in Germany from the application of Directive 2004/17/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 coordinating the procurement procedures of entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sector’.

— What possible reason can there be for this separate treatment of a single Member State?

— Does this not cut across the whole principle of common rules in the single market?

— If Germany is entitled to this exemption, why should other Member States not benefit from it?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2012)

Pursuant to Article 30 of Directive 2004/17/EC (173), Member States or, where national legislation so allows, contracting entities may request exemptions from the application of the rules of that directive for certain activities. The Commission may also start procedures on its own initiative. The Commission may adopt a decision exempting activities from the rules of the directive if two conditions are met, namely:

The German application at the basis of the draft Decision is the 10th in the electricity sector so far. For the other nine cases, five positive Decisions (174) were issued, two Decisions were negative (175) and one mixed (Italy), while in one other case (Spain) the application was withdrawn by the applicant and therefore did not result in a decision. (176)

The purpose of public procurement rules is to ensure that economic operators have a real possibility of exercising the fundamental freedoms linked to the free movement of goods and services and the freedom of establishment. When these objectives are ensured through a sufficient competitive pressure in a given sector and in a given Member State, the Commission can consider, after careful examination of each individual case, that an exemption to public procurement rules can be granted.

Each Decision adopted by the Commission must take into account the specific circumstances of the activities and Member State concerned. It is therefore not possible to extend the application referred to by the Honourable Member to other Member States. Other Member States may apply for a decision pursuant to Article 30 and may also be granted exemptions if the Commission finds that the relevant conditions set-out in the directive are met.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003259/12

to the Commission

David Martin (S&D)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Repatriation of North Koreans by the Chinese authorities

Recent weeks have seen the repatriation by China of at least 41 North Korean refugees to the DPRK, where they are likely to face execution along with their families, in accordance with statements issued by the North Korean regime.

In the light of this, what action will the Commission take to urge the Chinese government to live up to its international obligations under the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and recognise all North Koreans fleeing the DPRK as refugees sur place, considering the persecution they will face if repatriated?

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2012)

The EU has raised the issue of North Korean asylum‐seekers and refugees with China, in particular in the framework of the EU‐China human rights dialogue. All countries should as a matter of principle fulfil their commitments under the 1951 Convention related to the status of refugees and its 1967 Protocol by refraining from refouling people to their country of origin where they might face the death penalty or other human rights abuses. The Chinese position has remained unchanged until now. It does not recognise North Korean refugees and regards them as economic migrants. The Commission will continue to follow closely the situation of North Korean refugees and to engage China on this issue.

(Versione italiana)

Interrogazione con richiesta di risposta scritta E-003261/12

alla Commissione

Elisabetta Gardini (PPE)

(27 marzo 2012)

Oggetto: Emergenza sorbitolo

Una donna di 28 anni è morta a Barletta dopo aver ingerito una fiala di sorbitolo prima di sottoporsi a un test clinico di gastroenterologia.

Il sorbitolo, un additivo alimentare, era stato acquistato on line dal medico che aveva in cura la ragazza.

Altre due donne, che hanno ingerito la stessa sostanza, sono state ricoverate in gravi condizioni e si trovano sotto osservazione in ospedale.

E-Bay, il più grande sito di compravendite on line, dopo aver appreso la notizia ha deciso di sospendere la vendita in rete del sorbitolo in tutto il mondo.

In Italia, i carabinieri del Nas (Nucleo antisofisticazione) hanno sequestrato, per esaminarli, migliaia di litri di questa sostanza.

Premesso che, secondo l'Agenzia italiana del farmaco, delle oltre quarantamila farmacie aperte on line soltanto lo 0,6 % è legale, e un altro 2 % potenzialmente legale, può la Commissione rispondere ai seguenti quesiti:

Risposta di John Dalli a nome della Commissione

(14 giugno 2012)

La Commissione è al corrente del problema causato dal sorbitolo in Italia. Il sorbitolo è un additivo alimentare (dolcificante). Esso appartiene al gruppo di additivi per i quali non è stata definita una dose giornaliera ammissibile. Ciò significa che esso non rappresenta un rischio potenziale per la salute per raggiungere l'effetto tecnologico desiderato. L'additivo può essere quindi usato in diverse categorie di alimenti quantum satis, vale a dire che non è specificato un livello massimo e la sostanza deve essere usata conformemente a buone prassi di fabbricazione, a un livello non superiore a quanto necessario per raggiungere l'obiettivo perseguito, a condizione che il consumatore non venga tratto in inganno.

Informato dell'incidente il Regno Unito ha imposto un divieto di vendita o di distribuzione di tutte le sostanze chimiche d'uso alimentare provenienti dalla società coinvolta nelle vendite via internet del prodotto. Informazioni sulle vendite via internet/sugli acquirenti di tale impresa relativamente al ₫sorbitolo per uso alimentare₻ sono state fornite e fatte circolare tramite il Sistema di allarme rapido per gli alimenti e i mangimi.

La direttiva 2011/62/UE (177) comprende disposizioni in merito alle vendite a distanza di medicinali, disposizioni che diverranno applicabili un anno dopo la pubblicazione dell'atto di attuazione concernente la definizione di un logo comune atto a consentire l'identificazione delle ₫farmacie online₻ che operano legalmente. La Commissione ha iniziato i lavori preliminari su tale atto e prevede di pubblicare entro la fine del 2012 un documento di consultazione per ricevere i commenti delle parti interessate.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003261/12

to the Commission

Elisabetta Gardini (PPE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Sorbitol crisis

A 28-year-old woman has died in Barletta after ingesting an ampoule of sorbitol prior to undergoing a gastroenterological clinical test.

The sorbitol, a food additive, had been purchased online by the doctor who was treating her.

Another two women, who had ingested the same substance, were admitted to hospital in a serious condition and are being kept under observation.

After hearing the news, eBay, the biggest online shopping site, decided to suspend the online sale of sorbitol throughout the world.

In Italy, the NAS Carabinieri (the unit responsible for the safety of food, drinks and medicines) seized thousands of litres of this substance for testing.

In light of the fact that, according to the Italian Medicines Agency, only 0.6 % of the more than forty thousand online pharmacies are legal, with a further 2 % being potentially legal, could the Commission please answer the following questions:

Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2012)

The Commission is aware of the problem which occurred with Sorbitol in Italy. Sorbitol is a food additive (sweetener). It belongs to the group of additives for which no acceptable daily intake has been specified. This implies that it does not represent a hazard to health in order to achieve the desired technological effect. The additive can therefore be used in several food categories at quantum satis, this means that no maximum level is specified and the substance shall be used in accordance with good manufacturing practice, at the level not higher than is necessary to achieve the intended purpose provided that the consumer is not misled.

Following the information on the incident, the United Kingdom imposed a ban on the sale or distribution of any food grade chemicals from the company involved in the Internet sales. Information on the Internet sales/buyers from this company of ‘sorbitol food grade’ was provided and circulated through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.

Directive 2011/62/EU (178) includes provisions concerning the distance selling of medicines which will be applicable one year after the date of publication of the implementing act concerning the establishment of a common logo enabling the identification of legally operating ‘online pharmacies’. The Commission has initiated the preliminary work on this act and a consultation paper is planned to be published for comments by the end of 2012.

(Versione italiana)

Interrogazione con richiesta di risposta scritta E-003262/12

alla Commissione

Sergio Berlato (PPE)

(27 marzo 2012)

Oggetto: Colorante a rischio cancro contenuto nelle bibite

Il caratteristico colore scuro della Coca Cola, una delle bibite più conosciute consumate a livello mondiale, sembrerebbe essere il risultato dell'utilizzo di chinotti e di un caramello altamente pericoloso, l'E150d, il quale, insieme ad un altro colorante, l'E150c — entrambi contenenti ammoniaca — è stato accusato dall'associazione americana Center for Science in the Public Interest (Cspi) di produrre, durante la lavorazione, un residuo potenzialmente cancerogeno che si ritrova in bibite e alimenti: il 4-MEI.

Si consideri che l'Agenzia internazionale di ricerca sul cancro dell'Oms (Iarc) ha già inserito il 4-MEI nella lista delle sostanze potenzialmente cancerogene per la specie umana e che, dalle ultime analisi scientifiche, in una lattina di Coca Cola si riscontra la presenza del 4-MEI in quantità 5 volte superiori rispetto ai limiti consentiti.

Ciò premesso, può la Commissione rispondere ai seguenti quesiti:

Risposta data da John Dalli a nome della Commissione

(2 maggio 2012)

La Commissione rinvia l'onorevole deputato alla propria risposta all'interrogazione scritta E-002847/2012 (179):

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003262/12

to the Commission

Sergio Berlato (PPE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Potentially carcinogenic colouring in beverages

The characteristic dark colour of Coca-Cola, one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide, appears to result from the use of chinotto extract and a highly dangerous caramel, E150d. The US Center for Science in the Public Interest has claimed that, when processed, the latter substance, along with another colouring, E150c — both of which contain ammonia — produces a potentially carcinogenic residue found in beverages and food: 4-MEI.

The WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has already included 4-MEI on the list of potentially carcinogenic substances for humans. According to the latest scientific analyses, a can of Coca-Cola contains 4-MEI in quantities five times above the permitted limits.

In view of the above:

Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2012)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E‐002847/2012 (180).

(Versione italiana)

Interrogazione con richiesta di risposta scritta E-003263/12

alla Commissione

Sergio Berlato (PPE)

(27 marzo 2012)

Oggetto: Atenei fantasma e rilascio di lauree fasulle

L'Università Giovanni Paolo I, il cui sito web è stato sequestrato dalla Procura della Repubblica italiana nei giorni scorsi, rappresenta uno dei molti casi di falsi atenei che stanno nascendo non solo in Italia ma in tutta Europa. Strutture didattiche e scientifiche, in realtà inesistenti, una vasta offerta formativa presente solo sulla carta e il conferimento di lauree honoris causa a personaggi famosi e a politici per attirare iscrizioni, sono solo alcuni degli strumenti utilizzati da queste organizzazioni e orchestrati da abili truffatori.

La presenza di atenei fasulli, diffusi su tutto il territorio europeo, rappresenta un grave ostacolo al diritto allo studio dei cittadini e alla possibilità, soprattutto dei giovani, di ottenere un valido titolo di studio spendibile utilmente sul mercato del lavoro. Il valore dei documenti rilasciati è totalmente nullo: essi non sono riconosciuti in alcun paese.

Considerato che queste università fasulle rappresentano un pericolo per i giovani europei che, raggirati da false promesse, non solo vi investono tempo ed energie ma soprattutto risorse finanziarie, quali misure intende la Commissione adottare per prevenire la proliferazione sul territorio europeo di atenei fantasma che rilasciano false lauree, garantendo in tal modo ai cittadini europei il diritto allo studio e il connesso ottenimento di titoli legalmente riconosciuti sul territorio dell'Unione?

Risposta data da Androulla Vassiliou a nome della Commissione

(4 maggio 2012)

Conformemente all'articolo 165 del trattato sul funzionamento dell'Unione europea (TFUE) gli Stati membri sono i principali responsabili dell'organizzazione dei loro sistemi educativi. Di conseguenza, la Commissione non dispone di nessuna base per intervenire sulla questione sollevata nel quesito dell'onorevole deputato né dispone di alcuna conoscenza nel merito.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003263/12

to the Commission

Sergio Berlato (PPE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Bogus universities and the award of sham degrees

Giovanni Paolo I University, whose website was seized a few days ago by the Italian public prosecutor’s office, is one of the many bogus universities that are emerging not just in Italy, but throughout Europe. Non-existent teaching and scientific facilities, a wide range of courses existing on paper only and the award of honorary degrees to famous people and politicians in order to attract potential students are just some of the ruses orchestrated by the clever cheats who run bodies of this kind.

The fact that there are bogus universities spread all over Europe poses a serious obstacle to the right that citizens have to study and also to the chance, for young people in particular, to obtain a valid qualification usable on the job market. The documents issued are completely worthless: they are not recognised in any country.

Bearing in mind that they are a danger for young Europeans, who, lured by false promises, invest not only their time and energy, but, above all, their money, what measures will the Commission take to prevent bogus universities issuing similarly bogus degrees from proliferating in Europe and hence to ensure that European citizens can exercise their right to study and obtain qualifications legally recognised within the EU?

Answer given by Mrs Vassiliou on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2012)

In accordance with Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), Member States are primarily responsible for the organisation of their education systems. Accordingly, there is no basis for the Commission to intervene in the matter raised in the honourable member's question; nor does it have any knowledge of this matter.

(Versión española)

Pregunta con solicitud de respuesta escrita E-003268/12

a la Comisión

Ana Miranda (Verts/ALE)

(27 de marzo de 2012)

Asunto: Incendios en Galicia

El entorno natural de Galicia cuenta con múltiples espacios protegidos y reconocidos por su valor ecológico. La Red Natura 2000 reconoce el valor de diversos emplazamientos de Galicia, que deberían disponer de planes rectores de protección y conservación. El problema de los incendios en Galicia no es nuevo. Entre 2001 y 2010 ardieron, en promedio, 14 300 hectáreas anuales de zonas naturales gallegas. Muchos de esos incendios se produjeron en lugares protegidos por la Red Natura 2000.

La Directiva 92/43/CEE del Consejo, de 21 de mayo de 1992, relativa a la conservación de los hábitats naturales y de la fauna y flora silvestres, así como el Documento de trabajo de la Comisión sobre Natura 2000, de 27 de diciembre de  2002, prevén la adopción de regímenes de gestión de esos espacios.

Además, en las últimas semanas se produjeron en Galicia diversos incendios, como el del valle de Lóuzara (Lugo), que afectó, según la información recogida, a una ruta tradicional que enlaza los municipios de O Incio y O Courel, de gran valor ecológico y supervisada por la Estación Científica del Courel (Lugo). El Gobierno de Galicia está dejando de desempeñar las funciones de prevención y conservación, al suprimir los servicios de control de incendios de la Empresa Pública de Servicios Agrarios Gallegos (SEAGA).

Solicitamos, pues, a la Comisión que exija la adopción de normas tendentes a la elaboración de planes de prevención de incendios, a fin de evitar la destrucción de masa forestal y otras zonas de importante valor ecológico de este territorio, de tanta relevancia para la biodiversidad de Europa.

¿Tiene conocimiento la Comisión de la situación en materia de incendios en Galicia?

¿Puede informar sobre los planes de prevención de incendios para lugares de interés comunitario (LIC) reconocidos por la Red Natura 2000 en Galicia?

Respuesta del Sr. Potočnik en nombre de la Comisión

(25 de mayo de 2012)

La Comisión tiene conocimiento de esos incendios a través del Sistema Europeo de Información sobre Incendios Forestales (EFFIS), que colabora con los servicios responsables de la protección de los bosques contra los incendios en los países de la UE y facilita a los servicios de la Comisión y del Parlamento Europeo información actualizada y fiable sobre los incendios forestales en Europa.

La Comisión no recibe información sobre los planes de prevención de incendios para lugares Natura 2000 en aplicación de las disposiciones de la Directiva 92/43/CE (181) (Directiva de Hábitats).

No obstante, están previstas medidas forestales en el marco del Fondo Europeo Agrícola de Desarrollo Rural (Feader) (182). Los Estados miembros pueden elegir diferentes medidas forestales con arreglo a los programas de desarrollo rural correspondientes al período de programación 2007-2013, incluidas las acciones de prevención de incendios forestales y de restauración, especialmente importantes en los países mediterráneos, y elaborar planes de gestión y protección de lugares Natura 2000.

Mediante el fondo arriba mencionado, Galicia ya introdujo en 2010 medidas de prevención de incendios forestales en más de 90 000 hectáreas.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003268/12

to the Commission

Ana Miranda (Verts/ALE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Fires in Galicia

The natural surroundings of Galicia have many protected areas of recognised ecological value. The Natura 2000 network recognises the value of several sites in Galicia, for which there ought to be protection and conservation master plans. The problem of fires in Galicia is not new. Between 2001 and 2010 an average of 14 300 hectares a year of the Galician natural environment was destroyed. Many of the fires occurred on Natura 2000 protected sites.

Under Council Directive 92/43/CEE of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, and the Commission working document of 27 December 2002 on Natura 2000, management schemes have to be laid down for these sites.

Furthermore, in recent weeks, there have been several fires in Galicia, such as the one in the Lóuzara valley (Lugo), which, according to reports, damaged a traditional route of high ecological value linking the municipalities of O Incio and O Courel, overseen by the O Courel (Lugo) scientific research station. The Galician Government is failing to perform its prevention and conservation duties, as it is removing fire control services from the responsibility of the Galician agricultural services public enterprise (SEAGA).

The Commission should therefore call for standards to be drawn up in order to provide a basis for fire prevention plans to avoid the destruction of forest and other areas of ecological value in Galicia, given its high biodiversity value to Europe as a whole.

Is the Commission aware of the fires in Galicia?

Could it give details of the fire prevention plans for Natura 2000 sites of Community interest (SCIs) in Galicia?

Answer given by Mr Potočnik on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 2012)

The Commission is aware of these fires through the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) which supports the services in charge of the protection of forests against fires in EU countries and provides the European Commission services and the European Parliament with updated and reliable information on wildland fires in Europe.

The Commission does not receive information about fire prevention plans for Natura 2000 sites through the implementation of the provisions of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EC (183).

However, forestry measures are available under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) (184). Through the rural development programmes for the programming period 2007-2013, different forestry measures can be chosen by the Member States including active forest fire prevention and restoration actions which are particularly important in Mediterranean countries and drawing-up of protection and management plans relating to Natura 2000 sites.

Using the abovementioned fund, Galicia has already introduced prevention actions against forest fires on more than 90000 hectares by 2010.

(Versiunea în limba română)

Întrebarea cu solicitare de răspuns scris E-003269/12

adresată Comisiei

Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă (S&D)

(27 martie 2012)

Subiect: Convergența plăților directe

Având în vedere discrepanțele mari existente în distribuirea plăților directe între statele membre și, de asemenea, realocarea insuficientă a unei treimi a diferenței dintre 90% din media europeană a plăților directe și nivelul actual al plăților directe din statele unde nivelul acestora este situat sub media europeană (Comunicarea Comisiei privind reforma bugetului UE), consider că o asemenea formulă de echilibrare a plăților va fi insuficientă pentru noile state membre în contextul în care se preconizează impunerea unor condiții suplimentare pe componenta de ecologizare. Astfel, se poate concluziona că suma efectivă a majorării va fi nesemnificativă.

— În aceste condiții, ce măsuri are în vedere Comisia în vederea clarificării sistemului de convergență dintre vechile și noile state membre, având în vedere că reducerea plăților directe pentru statele membre situate peste media europeană e la fel de nesemnificativă precum este creșterea pentru statele clasate sub media UE?

Răspuns dat de dl Cioloș în numele Comisiei

(11 mai 2012)

Traiectoria propusă spre un grad mai mare de convergență între statele membre (185) a avut la bază argumentul că o modalitate pragmatică și fezabilă din punct de vedere economic și politic de redistribuire a plăților între statele membre este aceea de a majora fondurile alocate statelor membre care beneficiază de plăți directe sub medie, limitându-se în același timp pierderile statelor membre cu niveluri ale plăților care depășesc media.

Fără îndoială, chiar dacă diferențele în ceea ce privește nivelul de sprijin între statele membre și între agricultori sunt din ce în ce mai greu de justificat, fiind bazate în principal pe date istorice referitoare la productivitate, există în continuare diferențe substanțiale între statele membre în privința factorilor economici, iar o plată directă „forfetară” comună nu ar fi răspuns în mod adecvat obiectivelor acestui instrument.

Pe lângă măsurile de convergență propuse, statele membre care se situează sub 90% din media UE pentru plățile directe după redistribuire au posibilitatea de a transfera mai multe fonduri pentru plăți directe, prin trecerea de la pilonul II la pilonul I, la un nivel de până la 5% din fondurile care le sunt alocate pentru dezvoltare rurală.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003269/12

to the Commission

Vasilica Viorica Dăncilă (S&D)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Convergence of direct payments

Given the major inconsistencies existing with regard to the distribution of direct payments between Member States, and also the insufficient reallocation of a third of the difference between 90 % of the European average direct payments and the current level of direct payments in Member States where these levels are below the European average (Commission Communication on EU budget reform), I believe that such a formula for balancing payments will be insufficient for the new Member States, given the plan to impose further conditions in the recycling component. Therefore, it can be concluded that the actual amount of the increase will be insignificant.

In view of this and taking into account the fact that the reduction of direct payments to Member States above the European average is as insignificant as the increase for Member States classed as below the European average, what measures does the Commission intend to take to clarify the system of convergence between the old and new Member States?

Answer given by Mr Cioloş on behalf of the Commission

(11 May 2012)

The proposed path towards more convergence between Member States (186) has been guided by the consideration that a pragmatic, economically and politically feasible manner of redistributing payments between Member States is to increase the envelopes of Member States with below average direct payments while at the same time limiting the losses of the Member States with above average payment levels.

Indeed, even if differences in level of support between Member States and farmers is increasingly difficult to justify as based mainly on historical reference of productivity, substantial differences still exist between Member States in terms of economic factors and a common ‘flat rate’ direct payment would not have responded appropriately to the objectives of the instrument.

In addition to the proposed convergence, Member States that remain under 90 % of the EU average for direct payments after the proposed redistribution are granted the possibility to transfer more funds into direct payments through a shift from Pillar II to Pillar I at a level of up to 5 % of their rural development envelope.

(Versiunea în limba română)

Întrebarea cu solicitare de răspuns scris E-003270/12

adresată Comisiei

Daciana Octavia Sârbu (S&D)

(27 martie 2012)

Subiect: Consumul zilnic de iod

În unele state membre precum România, este obligatoriu ca sarea introdusă pe piață să conțină iod.

Reprezentanți ai societății civile din România și-au exprimat îngrijorările referitoare la consumul zilnic de iod și s-au arătat preocupați de faptul că, în medie, un român consumă 11 grame de sare pe zi, adică dublu față de doza recomandată de Organizația Mondială a Sănătății, și că această doză poate avea efecte adverse asupra sănătății.

În acest sens,

— Dispune Comisia de date privind efectele adverse ale consumului zilnic de iod?

— Poate oferi Comisia recomandări referitoare la folosirea zilnică a iodului din sare?

Răspuns dat de dl Dalli în numele Comisiei

(2 mai 2012)

Comisia invită distinsa membră să consulte răspunsul oferit de Comisie la întrebarea scrisă E‐002911/20121. Adaosul obligatoriu de vitamine și minerale în produsele alimentare, care intervine atunci când statele membre solicită producătorilor de produse alimentare să adauge anumite vitamine sau minerale în alimente, nu este armonizat la nivelul UE. Statele membre care au introdus astfel de cerințe, cum ar fi România, dețin, prin urmare, competența exclusivă de a decide cu privire la nivelul de vitamine sau minerale care urmează a fi adăugate în aceste cazuri specifice.

Cu privire la efectele negative ale consumului zilnic de iod, Comisia dorește să aducă la cunoștința distinsei membre că, la data de 26 septembrie 2002 (187), Comitetul științific pentru alimentație a emis un aviz privind limita superioară de risc tolerabil pentru iod, ca urmare a unei solicitări din partea Comisiei.

Cu privire la recomandările referitoare la consumul zilnic de iod din sare, Regulamentul (CE) nr. 1925/2006 prevede că o vitamină sau un mineral trebuie adăugat(ă) într-un produs alimentar în cel puțin o cantitate semnificativă, care este definită ca fiind 15% din doza zilnică recomandată pentru vitamina sau mineralul în cauză la 100mg sau 100 ml sau per recipient. Regulamentul (CE) nr. 1925/2006 prevede, de asemenea, stabilirea cantităților maxime de vitamină sau mineral care pot fi adăugate în produsele alimentare. În absența armonizării acestor niveluri, anumite state membre au adoptat norme naționale.

Informațiile referitoare la dispozițiile naționale privind adaosul obligatoriu de vitamine și minerale în produsele alimentare pot fi găsite pe site-ul internet al Comisiei (http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/labellingnutrition/vitamins/comm_reg_en.pdf).

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003270/12

to the Commission

Daciana Octavia Sârbu (S&D)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Daily iodine intake

In some Member States, such as Romania, it is mandatory for salt introduced into the market to contain iodine.

Representatives of civil society in Romania have expressed concerns about the daily intake of iodine and have raised concerns that, on average, a Romanian consumes 11 grams of salt per day, which is double the dose recommended by the World Health Organisation, and that this dose may have adverse health effects.

In view of this:

Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2012)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E‐002911/20121. Mandatory addition of vitamins and minerals to foods, which occurs when individual Member States require food manufacturers to add specified vitamins or minerals to foods, is not harmonised at EU level. Member States who have introduced such requirements, such as Romania, have therefore the exclusive competence to decide on the level of vitamins or minerals to be added in such specific cases.

With respect to adverse effects of daily iodine intake, the Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that the Scientific Committee on Food expressed its opinion on the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Iodine on 26 September 2002 (188), following a request by the Commission.

With regard to recommendations on the daily intake of iodine in salt, Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 lays down that a vitamin or a mineral must be added to a food in at least a significant amount which is defined as 15 % of the recommended daily allowance for the vitamin or mineral supplied by 100mg or 100ml or per package. Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 also provides for the setting of maximum amounts of a vitamin or a mineral that may be added to foods. In the absence of these harmonised levels certain Member States have adopted national rules.

Information regarding national provisions on the mandatory addition of vitamins and minerals to foods may be found on the Commission's website

(http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/labellingnutrition/vitamins/comm_reg_en.pdf).

(Deutsche Fassung)

Anfrage zur schriftlichen Beantwortung E-003271/12

an die Kommission

Sabine Wils (GUE/NGL)

(27. März 2012)

Betrifft: Einsatz des Bevölkerungsscanners Indect bei der Fußball-EM in Polen

Laut deutschen Medienberichten soll das EU-Forschungsprojekt „Intelligent information system supporting observation, searching and detection for security of citizens in urban environment “ (Indect) bei der Fußball-EM 2012 getestet werden. Polizeimaßnahmen würden demnach in einer „Operation Libero“ geprobt. Bei EM-Spielen in Polen würden mobile Scanner eingesetzt, Stadionbesucher nach radioaktivem und pyrotechnischem Material abgesucht. Mittels eines militärischen „Lasergeräts“ identifiziere die Polizei „kleinste Mengen bakteriologischer Verseuchung“.

Demgegenüber teilte die EU-Kommission am 24. November 2010 mit, dass Indect zwar in der Baltic Arena in Polen getestet würde (E-6912/2010), jedoch sollten keine Tests während der EM 2012 stattfinden. Vor Testläufen müssten ohnehin Genehmigungen zur Verarbeitung persönlicher Daten eingeholt werden. Unterstrichen wurde, dass „nur Einzelpersonen, die ihre schriftliche Einwilligung gegeben haben, an diesen Tests teilnehmen werden“.

Inwieweit finden Anwendungen des EU-Projekts Indect bei der Fußball-EM (auch testweise) Verwendung, und inwieweit werden bei der Fußball-EM Anwendungen eingesetzt, die zwar nicht im Rahmen des Indect-Projekts entwickelt wurden, jedoch über den polnischen Projektpartner AGH Krakau (Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza — Akademie für Bergbau und Hüttenwesen) oder andere Entwicklungen des Projektleiters Andrej Dziech zu Indect beigesteuert werden?

Wie wird bei etwaigen Tests oder Einsätzen von Hard‐ oder Software durch Sicherheitsbehörden sichergestellt, dass alle erfassten Personen hierzu ihr Einverständnis gegeben haben?

Inwieweit sind Projekte, Maßnahmen oder Institutionen der EU in die Sicherheitszusammenarbeit anlässlich der Fußball-EM in Polen und der Ukraine eingebunden, und inwieweit ist die EU an der „Operation Libero“ oder anderen Tests zur Sicherheitszusammenarbeit bei der EM 2012 beteiligt?

Welche Entwicklungen oder Ergebnisse zeigen „Partnerschaften“ von Indect mit dem Polizeiüberwachungszentrum in Warschau, anderen Behörden in Krakau, dem Flughafen Rębiechowo in Danzig, der Baltic Arena oder „zahlreichen anderen europäischen Städten“ hinsichtlich weiterer Tests von Indect (E-6912/2010)?

Antwort von Herrn Tajani im Namen der Kommission

(14. Mai 2012)

Die Kommission teilt dem Herrn Abgeordneten mit, dass das Indect-Projekt nicht bei der Fußball-Europameisterschaft 2012 in Polen und der Ukraine getestet wird. Dies wurde sowohl von der Indect-Projektleitung

(http://www.indect-project.eu/events/global/to-euro-2012-and-indect) als auch von der Kommission (http://ec.europa.eu/deutschland/press/pr_releases/10555_de.htm) öffentlich bekanntgegeben.

Sämtliche relevanten Informationen über das Indect-Projekt, ob über die Projektergebnisse oder über mögliche Tests, sind auf der Indect-Website (in polnischer und englischer Sprache) zu finden (http://www.indect-project.eu/).

Die Kommission ist an den von der polnischen Polizei bei der Fußball-Europameisterschaft 2012 geplanten Sicherheitsmaßnahmen nicht beteiligt, auch nicht an der „Operation Libero“.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003271/12

to the Commission

Sabine Wils (GUE/NGL)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Use of the Indect scanner at the European Football Championships in Poland

According to reports in the German media, there are plans to test the EU research project ‘Intelligent information system supporting observation, searching and detection for security of citizens in urban environment’ (Indect) at the European Football Championships in 2012. The report claims that policing measures would be put to the test in ‘Operation Libero’. It states that mobile scanners would be used at the European Football Championship games in Poland to check stadium visitors for radioactive and pyrotechnical materials. Police would use a military ‘laser device’ to detect ‘even the smallest amount of bacteriological contamination’.

On the other hand, the European Commission stated on 24 November 2010 that although Indect would be tested in the Baltic Arena in Poland (E‐6912/2010), there would be no testing during the 2012 Championships. In any case approval for the processing of personal data would have to be sought before any trials. It was emphasised that only ‘individuals who had given their written permission would participate in these tests’.

To what extent are applications from the EU Indect project to be used at the European Football Championships (even on a trial basis) and to what extent will applications be used at the European Football Championships that were not developed within the framework of the Indect project, but through the Polish project partner AGH Krakow (Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza — University of Science and Technology) or other developments by project leader Andrej Dziech in relation to Indect?

What measures will be taken to ensure that all the persons scanned during any test or deployment of hardware or software by the security authorities have given their consent for this?

To what extent are EU projects, measures or institutions to be involved in security collaboration during the European Football Championships in Poland and Ukraine, and to what extent is the EU involved in ‘Operation Libero’ or other tests in relation to cooperation on security during the 2012 European Football Championships?

What developments or results have been yielded by ‘partnerships’ between Indect and the police surveillance centre in Warsaw, other authorities in Krakow, Rębiechowo Airport in Gdansk, the Baltic Arena or ‘numerous other European cities’ in relation to further testing of Indect (E‐6912/2010)?

Answer given by Mr Tajani on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 2012)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that the INDECT project will not be tested during the UEFA Football Championship 2012 in Poland and the Ukraine. This has been publicly stated by the INDECT project (see: http://www.indect-project.eu/events/global/to-euro-2012-and-indect) as well as by the Commission (see: http://ec.europa.eu/deutschland/press/pr_releases/10555_de.htm).

All relevant information on the INDECT project, be it on the results of the project or possible testing can be found on the website of INDECT: http://www.indect-project.eu/

The Commission is not involved in the security measures planned by the Polish police during the UEFA Football Championship 2012, nor is it participating to the ‘Operation Libero’.

(Version française)

Question avec demande de réponse écrite P-003272/12

à la Commission (Vice-Présidente/Haute Représentante)

Patrick Le Hyaric (GUE/NGL)

(27 mars 2012)

Objet: VP/HR — Protocole additionnel ACAA de l'accord d'association UE/Israël

Ces derniers mois, trois rapports internes des chefs de mission de l'UE dans les territoires occupés ont décrit dans les détails les violations des Droits de l'homme commises par Israël en Cisjordanie (Jérusalem-Est incluse) et en Israël contre le peuple palestinien.

Le protocole additionnel ACAA, actuellement en discussion au Parlement européen, permettrait de renforcer les relations UE-Israël en facilitant l'accès des produits industriels israéliens, dont une partie sont issus des territoires occupés et produits par les colonies, au marché européen grâce à une seule et unique procédure de certification.

Or, Israël tente de faire passer des produits issus des colonies illégales dans les territoires occupés comme ₫produits israéliens₻, ce qui contrevient clairement aux dispositions internationales.

Comme l'a déclaré la Vice-Présidente/Haute Représentante dans sa communication conjointe au Parlement et au Conseil des droits et de la démocratie, en décembre 2010, ₫l'agenda commercial et celui des Droits de l'homme de l'UE doivent être cohérents, transparents, prévisibles, réalisables et efficaces₻.

La Vice-Présidente/Haute Représentante compte-t-elle se prononcer et demander le rejet par le Conseil du protocole additionnel ACAA?

Quelles sont les informations dont elle dispose concernant les produits issus des colonies qui arrivent en Europe?

Réponse donnée par la Vice-présidente/Haute Représentante Mme Ashton au nom de la Commission

(21 mai 2012)

Le protocole ACAA a été signé par le Conseil au nom de l'Union européenne en mai 2010. La procédure législative prévoit que le Conseil conclue l'accord après approbation du Parlement.

Les dispositions du protocole ACAA s'appliquent à tous les produits indépendamment de leur origine. Toute marchandise, de toute origine, qu'elle soit d'Israël, de tout autre pays ou territoire voisin, ou de tout autre pays dans le monde, peut bénéficier du protocole si le producteur choisit de faire certifier ses produits par des organismes de certification de l'UE ou d'Israël. Par ailleurs, le protocole ACAA n'a aucune incidence sur la politique de l'UE, selon laquelle les produits provenant des colonies ne peuvent pas bénéficier d'un traitement préférentiel au titre de l'accord d'association EU-Israël, et l'arrangement technique existant entre l'EU et Israël fonctionne de manière satisfaisante.

Les statistiques israéliennes officielles n'établissent pas de distinction entre la situation avant, pendant et après les frontières de 1967 de l'État d'Israël en matière d'exportations vers l'UE. C'est pourquoi il est impossible de fournir des chiffres exacts à propos des produits provenant des colonies qui sont importés dans l'Union européenne.

(English version)

Question for written answer P-003272/12

to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)

Patrick Le Hyaric (GUE/NGL)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: VP/HR — Additional protocol to the EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products

In the last few months EU Heads of Mission in the occupied territories have issued three internal reports describing in detail the human rights violations carried out by Israel in the West Bank (including in East Jerusalem) and in Israel against the Palestinian people.

The additional protocol to the EU-Israel Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products (ACAA), which is currently being debated in Parliament, could strengthen EU-Israeli relations and make it easier for Israeli industrial products, many of which come from the occupied territories and are produced by the settlements, to reach the European market, thanks to a single and straightforward certification procedure.

However, Israel is attempting to pass off products from illegal settlements in the occupied territories as ‘Israeli products’, which is clearly in breach of international provisions.

As the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy stated in her joint communication on rights and democracy in December 2010 to Parliament and the Council, the EU trade agenda and human rights agenda need to be consistent, transparent, predictable, achievable and effective.

Does the High Representative intend to call on the Council to reject the additional protocol to the ACAA?

What information does she have on products from the settlements that are reaching Europe?

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2012)

The ACAA protocol was signed by the Council on behalf of the EU in May 2010. The legislative procedure envisages that the Council concludes the agreement after obtaining the consent of the Parliament.

The provisions of the ACAA protocol apply to products irrespective of their origin. Any goods from any origin, whether from Israel, from any other neighbouring country or territory, or from any other country in the world can benefit from the protocol if the producer chooses that certification bodies in the EU or in Israel certify its products. At the same time, the ACAA protocol does not affect the established EU policy that settlement products cannot benefit from preferential treatment under the EU‐Israel Association Agreement, and the Technical Arrangement in place between the EU and Israel is functioning in a satisfactory manner.

Official Israeli statistics do not distinguish between within and beyond pre-1967 borders of the State of Israel as regards exports to the EU. Therefore, it is not possible to establish exact figures about settlement products imported into the EU.

(Deutsche Fassung)

Anfrage zur schriftlichen Beantwortung E-003273/12

an die Kommission

Sabine Wils (GUE/NGL)

(27. März 2012)

Betrifft: Bewertung und Bekämpfung von Umgebungslärm — Entwurf eines Lärmaktionsplans

In dem Grünbuch über die künftige Lärmschutzpolitik hat die Kommission den Umgebungslärm als eines der größten Umweltprobleme in Europa bezeichnet. In der Stadt Dortmund wird nun über den Entwurf eines Lärmaktionsplans gestritten. Eine wesentliche Frage dabei ist, wie die Vorgaben der Richtlinie 2002/49/EG vom 25. Juni 2002 über die Bewertung und Bekämpfung von Umgebungslärm umgesetzt werden.

In Anhang I dieser Richtlinie betreffend Lärmindizes wird die Möglichkeit geschaffen, Umgebungslärm vielfältiger und differenzierter zu betrachten und in entsprechende Lärmaktionspläne aufzunehmen. Nun hat die Stadt Dortmund eingeräumt, dass Lärmgrenzwerte zwar überschritten werden, sie wird aber nicht tätig und beruft sich auf deutsches Recht. Konkret werden von der Stadt Dortmund weder Fluglärm noch Gewerbelärm noch das Zusammenwirken von Lärm aus verschiedenen Quellen betrachtet.

Kann sich die Stadt in Bezug auf die Richtlinie 2002/49/EG den Vorgaben und Zielen der Union, der Gewährleistung eines hohen Gesundheits‐ und Umweltschutzniveaus als Teil der Gemeinschaftspolitik, wobei eines der Ziele im Lärmschutz besteht, entziehen? Wenn ja, auf der Grundlage welcher Artikel der Richtlinie oder welcher nationalen Gesetze?

Inwieweit und an welcher Stelle ist ein Rechtsanspruch auf Maßnahmen zur Lärmminderung einklagbar, wenn die Stadt Dortmund auf die Tatsache, dass grenzwertüberschreitender Umgebungslärm die Gesundheit von Menschen akut gefährdet, nicht reagiert, und wie kann die Ermittlung und Durchsetzung der erforderlichen Maßnahmen gerichtlich erzwungen werden?

Die Stadt Dortmund hat erst jetzt, mit über vier Jahren Verspätung, angefangen, sich mit der Thematik in Form eines Lärmaktionsplanes zu befassen. Dies geschieht auf der Grundlage veralteter Daten und ohne ausreichende Beteiligungsmöglichkeiten der Bevölkerung. Ist dieser Umstand der Kommission bekannt, wie verfährt sie mit Verspätungen solcher Art, und wie stellt die Kommission sicher, dass eine zeitgerechte und inhaltlich den EU-Anforderungen entsprechende Umsetzung und Würdigung des Themas stattfindet?

Antwort von Herrn Potočnik im Namen der Kommission

(4. Juni 2012)

Mit der Richtlinie 2002/49/EG (189) über die Bewertung und Bekämpfung von Umgebungslärm wird Umgebungslärm durch vier wesentliche Elemente bekämpft: 1) durch die Erstellung von Lärmkarten für Hauptverkehrsstraßen, Ballungsräume, Eisenbahnstrecken und Flughäfen, 2) durch die Ausarbeitung von Aktionsplänen, 3) durch Berichte über diese Lärmkarten und Aktionspläne an die Kommission und 4) durch die Unterrichtung der Öffentlichkeit. Die Richtlinie ist für die Mitgliedstaaten hinsichtlich des zu erreichenden Ziels verbindlich, überlässt jedoch den einzelstaatlichen Stellen die Wahl der Form und der Mittel.

Für die Durchsetzung der nationalen Rechtsvorschriften zum Umgebungslärm sind die Mitgliedstaaten selbst verantwortlich (190).

Die deutschen Behörden haben eine Lärmkarte gemäß Richtlinie 2002/49/EG (191) für die Stadt Dortmund vorgelegt, jedoch noch keinen entsprechenden Lärmaktionsplan. Aus öffentlich zugänglichen Informationen geht jedoch hervor, dass die Stadt Dortmund nun mit der Erstellung eines Lärmaktionsplans (192) befasst ist. Der Entwurf eines Lärmaktionsplans, zu dem die Öffentlichkeit allem Anschein nach befragt wurde und an dem sie sich beteiligen konnte, beruht auf den Ergebnissen der entsprechenden Lärmkarte, wie in der Richtlinie verlangt (siehe Artikel 1 Absatz 1 Buchstabe c).

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003273/12

to the Commission

Sabine Wils (GUE/NGL)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Assessment and management of environmental noise — drafting of a noise action plan

In the Green Paper on Future Noise Policy, the Commission identifies environmental noise as one of the most serious environmental problems in Europe. In that connection, the City of Dortmund is now in the throes of a dispute concerning the drafting of a noise action plan. One of the key points at issue is how to implement the provisions of Directive 2002/49/EC of 25 June 2002 relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise.

Annex I to that directive concerning noise indices makes it possible to analyse environmental noise in a more varied and subtle way and to incorporate the results in corresponding noise action plans. The City of Dortmund has now admitted that although noise limits are being exceeded, it does not intend to take action, invoking German law in support of its position. The City of Dortmund does not address separately the issues of air traffic noise or industrial noise, or the effect of noise from different sources.

Can the city choose to ignore the EU’s requirements and objectives as laid down in Directive 2002/49/EC, which aims to ensure a high standard of health and environmental protection as part of Community policy, one of the objectives being protection against noise? If so, on the basis of which article of the directive or which national laws can it do so?

What scope is there for bringing legal action, and before which court, to secure noise reduction measures if the City of Dortmund fails to respond to the fact that environmental noise that exceeds the set limits represents an acute risk to human health, and how can the identification and implementation of the required measures be enforced through the courts?

Only now, after a delay of more than four years, has the City of Dortmund begun to deal with the issue in the form of a noise action plan. This action plan is based on out-of-date information and does not make adequate provision for public involvement. Is the Commission aware of this situation? How does it deal with delays of this kind? How does it intend to ensure that this matter is addressed promptly and in accordance with the relevant EU requirements?

Answer given by Mr Potočnik on behalf of the Commission

(4 June 2012)

Directive 2002/49/EC (193) relating to the assessment and management of environmental noise addresses environmental noise through four essential elements: (1) producing noise maps for major roads, agglomerations, railways and airports, (2) preparing action plans, (3) reporting those noise maps and action plans to the Commission and (4) informing the public thereof. The directive is binding on Member States, as to the result to be achieved, but leaves to the national authorities the choice of form and methods.

The enforcement of national environmental noise related law is the responsibility of each Member State (194).

As regards the city of Dortmund, Germany has reported a noise map pursuant to Directive 2002/49/EC (195) but has not yet reported the relevant noise action plan. According to publicly available information it appears that the city of Dortmund is however now in the process of establishing a noise action plan (196). The draft noise action plan on which it appears that the public has been consulted and given an opportunity to participate in, is based on the result of the relevant noise map, as required by the directive (see Article 1(1)c of the directive).

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003274/12

to the Commission

Nicole Sinclaire (NI)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Public procurement contracts

The Commission has stated that the US government has made a total of EUR 178 billion in public contracts available to foreign bidders.

However, the US government disputes this, citing a figure of ‘over USD 400 billion’ (EUR 302.77 billion).

Can the Commission explain this anomaly?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 May 2012)

The European Union (EU) and the United States of America (US) compared data for their respective procurement markets during the re-negotiation of the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). Based on the methodology agreed at this joint exercise, the figures for the respective procurement markets are as follows:

We have no information on the US figures (EUR 302.77 billion) referred to by the Honourable Member.

(Deutsche Fassung)

Anfrage zur schriftlichen Beantwortung E-003275/12

an die Kommission

Angelika Werthmann (NI)

(27. März 2012)

Betrifft: Eskalation des Terrors in Nigeria

Die aktuelle Situation bezüglich Menschenrechtsverletzungen in Nigeria ist inakzeptabel und erfordert unverzügliche Maßnahmen. Die anhaltenden Bedrohungen und terroristischen Angriffe durch Boko Haram in Verbindung mit AQMI müssen zu einem Ende gebracht werden. Die Regierung Nigerias verweigert ihren Bürgern grundlegende Menschenrechte.

Antwort von Frau Catherine Ashton — Hohe Vertreterin/Vizepräsidentin im Namen der Kommission

(14. Juni 2012)

Die Hohe Vertreterin/Vizepräsidentin teilt das Interesse der Frau Abgeordneten an der Menschenrechtssituation in Nigeria.

Am 14. März 2012 gab der dänische Außenminister Villy Søvndal im Namen der Hohen Vertreterin/Vizepräsidentin eine Erklärung zur Lage in Nigeria ab, in der auch die Menschenrechte thematisiert wurden. Im Anschluss daran hat das Europäische Parlament eine umfassende Entschließung angenommen, in der insbesondere Menschenrechtsfragen behandelt werden.

Die EU beobachtet fortlaufend die Menschenrechtssituation in Nigeria und führt zudem einen regelmäßigen Menschenrechtsdialog mit den Behörden. Der jüngste Dialog fand am 3. Februar 2012 statt.

Der EU sind die Schwierigkeiten bekannt, mit denen Bürger der EU und anderer Staaten, die im Bereich der humanitären Hilfe arbeiten, sowie ihre nigerianischen Kollegen konfrontiert sind. Sie würdigt deren Mitgefühl und Einsatz. Wir arbeiten mit Nigeria zusammen, um diese Schwierigkeiten zu überwinden.

Der Hohen Vertreterin/Vizepräsidentin ist nicht bekannt, dass in Nigeria vor kurzem europäische christliche Missionare von muslimischen Extremistengruppen entführt worden sein sollen. Zum Zeitpunkt der Abfassung dieser Antwort betrifft der jüngste der äußerst besorgniserregenden Entführungsfälle einen Ingenieur mit EU-Staatsangehörigkeit. Die EU bemüht sich gemeinsam mit anderen Mitgliedstaaten um eine Verbesserung der Fähigkeit der Sicherheitskräfte, solche Entführungen vorauszusehen und in Zukunft zu verhindern.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003275/12

to the Commission

Angelika Werthmann (NI)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Escalation of terror in Nigeria

The current situation concerning human rights violations in Nigeria is inacceptable, and urgent measures have to be taken. The continuous threats and terrorist attacks on the part of the Boko Aram sect in conjunction with AQMI must be brought to an end. The Nigerian government is denying its citizens their basic human rights.

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2012)

The HR/VP shares the Honourable Member's interest in the human rights situation in Nigeria.

A statement on the situation in Nigeria covering this matter was delivered on 14 March 2012 by the Danish Foreign Minister Villy Soevndal on behalf of the HR/VP, following which the European Parliament adopted a substantive Resolution covering, in particular, human rights issues.

The EU permanently monitors the human rights situation in Nigeria, and also maintains a regular human rights dialogue with the authorities. The most recent such dialogue took place on 3 February 2012.

The EU is aware of the difficulties faced by EU citizens and others, including their Nigerian counterparts working in the field of humanitarian assistance. It salutes their compassion and dedication, and we work with Nigeria to overcome such difficulties.

The HR/VP is not aware of any recent kidnappings of European Christian missionaries by Islamic extremist groups in Nigeria. At the time of writing the most recent of these deeply distressing cases involves an engineer of EU nationality. The EU is making efforts, along with some Member States, to improve the capacity of the security forces to anticipate and prevent such kidnappings from happening in the future.

(Deutsche Fassung)

Anfrage zur schriftlichen Beantwortung E-003276/12

an die Kommission

Angelika Werthmann (NI)

(27. März 2012)

Betrifft: Inhaftierung politischer Gegner in Belarus

In der Republik Belarus werden politische Gegner oder Künstler, die die Regierung kritisieren, rechtswidrig inhaftiert. Diese Maßnahmen widersprechen den Grundprinzipien und Grundwerten der Europäischen Union.

Antwort von Frau Catherine Ashton — Hohe Vertreterin/Vizepräsidentin im Namen der Kommission

(27. Juni 2012)

Die EU hat in verschiedenen internationalen Foren ihre Besorgnis über die Verschlechterung der Lage in Belarus seit den Präsidentschaftswahlen vom 19. Dezember 2010 sehr deutlich zum Ausdruck gebracht. Neben zahlreichen Erklärungen der Hohen Vertreterin/Vizepräsidentin hat der Rat Auswärtige Angelegenheiten mehrfach Schlussfolgerungen zu diesem Thema angenommen, zuletzt am 23. März 2012.

Der Rat hat restriktive Maßnahmen gegen Belarus angenommen und so die EU in die Lage versetzen, die Personen oder Einrichtungen zu benennen, die für die Verletzung internationaler Wahlstandards bei den letzten Präsidentschaftswahlen oder für die anschließende Repression verantwortlich waren. Auf seiner Tagung im Januar beschloss der Rat Allgemeine Angelegenheiten die Anwendung restriktiver Maßnahmen gegen Personen, die für schwerwiegende Menschenrechtsverletzungen oder die Unterdrückung der Zivilgesellschaft und der demokratischen Opposition in Belarus verantwortlich waren, und gegen Personen oder Einrichtungen, die Nutzen aus dem Regime ziehen oder es unterstützen.

Die EU verfolgt weiterhin eine Politik des kritischen Engagements u. a. durch Dialog und im Rahmen der Östlichen Partnerschaft.

Der politische Dialog mit den Behörden ist sehr begrenzt. Die EU hat wiederholt ihre Bereitschaft signalisiert, Belarus bei der Erfüllung seiner Verpflichtungen in Bezug auf die Achtung der Grundsätze der Demokratie, der Rechtsstaatlichkeit und der Menschenrechte zu unterstützen. Unterdessen hat die EU im Rahmen des Europäischen Dialogs über Modernisierung ihr Engagement gegenüber der Zivilgesellschaft und der politischen Opposition in Belarus verstärkt. Dieser innovative Dialog, der Ende April von dem für die Erweiterung und die Europäische Nachbarschaftspolitik zuständigen Kommissionsmitglied eingeleitet wurde und hauptsächlich in Minsk geführt wird, trägt dazu bei, Wege aufzuzeigen, wie sich Belarus zu einem modernen, demokratischen Land entwickeln kann.

Schließlich hat die Europäische Kommission ihre Unterstützung für die Zivilgesellschaft und die Opfer der Unterdrückung in Belarus mehr als vervierfacht.

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003276/12

to the Commission

Angelika Werthmann (NI)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Imprisonment of political opponents in Belarus

The Republic of Belarus illegally detains opponents or artists who criticise the work of the government. This behaviour does not comply with the fundamental principles and values of the European Union.

Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Ashton on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2012)

Against the background of the deterioration of the situation in Belarus since the 19 December 2010 Presidential elections, the EU has been very vocal about its concerns in various international fora. HR/VP Ashton has made numerous statements and the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) has, on several occasions, adopted conclusions, the most recent being on 23 March 2012.

The Council has adopted restrictive measures towards Belarus allowing the EU to designate persons or entities either responsible for the violations of electoral standards in the last Presidential elections, or for the subsequent crackdown. January's FAC decided to apply restrictive measures on persons responsible for serious violations of human rights or the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Belarus, and on persons or entities benefiting from or supporting the regime.

The EU continues its policy of critical engagement, including through dialogue and the Eastern Partnership.

The political dialogue with the authorities is very limited. The EU has repeatedly made clear its willingness to assist Belarus in meeting its obligations as regards the respect for the principles of democracy, rule of law and human rights. Meanwhile, the EU has strengthened its engagement with civil society and the political opposition through the European Dialogue on Modernisation with Belarusian Society. Launched at the end of April by the Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy and mainly taking place in Minsk, it is an innovative exercise which will help clarifying what a modern and democratic Belarus could look like and how to get there.

Finally, the European Commission has more than quadrupled its assistance to civil society and to victims of repression in Belarus.

(Nederlandse versie)

Vraag met verzoek om schriftelijk antwoord E-003278/12

aan de Commissie

Lambert van Nistelrooij (PPE) en Iosif Matula (PPE)

(27 maart 2012)

Betreft: Platform voor stedelijke ontwikkeling

Artikel 8 van het voorstel voor een verordening met betrekking tot het Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling betreft de oprichting van een platform voor stedelijke ontwikkeling  ter bevordering van een beleidsgeoriënteerde dialoog over stedelijke ontwikkeling op het niveau van de EU. De Commissie regionale ontwikkeling (REGI) van het Europees Parlement debatteert de komende weken en maanden over het voorstel voor een verordening van de Commissie. Kan de Commissie, teneinde ons in de gelegenheid te stellen haar voorstel goed te kunnen beoordelen, antwoord geven op de onderstaande vragen:

Antwoord van de heer Hahn namens de Commissie

(4 mei 2012)

(Versiunea în limba română)

Întrebarea cu solicitare de răspuns scris E-003278/12

adresată Comisiei

Lambert van Nistelrooij (PPE) şi Iosif Matula (PPE)

(27 martie 2012)

Subiect: Platforma de dezvoltare urbană

Articolul 8 din propunerea de regulament cu privire la FEDR propune crearea unei platforme de dezvoltare urbană în vederea promovării unui dialog orientat pe politici cu privire la dezvoltarea urbană la nivelul UE. Comisia pentru dezvoltare regională a Parlamentului European (REGI) va dezbate în săptămânile și lunile următoare propunerea de regulament a Comisiei. Cu scopul de a obține o analiză autentică a propunerii Comisiei am dori clarificarea următoarelor aspecte:

Răspuns dat de dl Hahn în numele Comisiei

(4 mai 2012)

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003278/12

to the Commission

Lambert van Nistelrooij (PPE) and Iosif Matula (PPE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Urban development platform

Article 8 of the proposal for a regulation on the ERDF proposes the establishment of an urban development platform to promote a policy-oriented dialogue on urban development at the EU level. The European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development (REGI) will debate the Commission’s proposal for a regulation in the coming weeks and months. With a view to obtaining a genuine analysis of the Commission proposal we would like to clarify the following:

Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2012)

(Deutsche Fassung)

Anfrage zur schriftlichen Beantwortung P-003279/12

an die Kommission

Eva Lichtenberger (Verts/ALE)

(27. März 2012)

Betrifft: Aktion 64 der Digitalen Agenda für Europa

Aktion 64 der Digitalen Agenda für Europa hat das Ziel, dass alle öffentlichen Webseiten und Webseiten, die den Bürgern grundsätzliche Dienste anbieten, bis 2015 komplett zugänglich sind.

— Hat die Kommission ihre Folgenabschätzung zur Aktion 64 abgeschlossen?

— Kann die Kommission eine detaillierte Aufstellung bereitstellen, die Informationen darüber enthält, wie viele und welche öffentlichen Stellen, welche Stellen aus dem Privatsektor und aus dem Freiwilligenbereich kontaktiert wurden?

Antwort von Frau Kroes im Namen der Kommission

(25. April 2012)

2010 wurde eine Folgenabschätzung zu den politischen Optionen für die Aktion 64 eingeleitet. In der entsprechenden Lenkungsgruppe sind die Dienststellen und Abteilungen der Kommission umfassend vertreten. Als Teil dieses Prozesses wurden mehrere öffentliche Konsultationen und Studien gemäß etablierten Standards und unter Einbeziehung einer breiten Palette von Interessenträgern durchgeführt: Mitgliedstaaten (in den Arbeitgruppen zu „e-Inclusion“ (197) und „Inclusive Communications“ (198)), Sachverständige des Bereichs IKT und/oder Behinderungen, Organisationen der Zivilgesellschaft, IKT-Unternehmen, die Produkte und Dienstleistungen zur Sicherung der Barrierefreiheit im Internet anbieten, und Bürger/Nutzer. Darüber hinaus wurden direkte Konsultationen mit wichtigen Organisationen der Zivilgesellschaft (wie der Europäischen Blindenunion und dem Europäischen Behindertenforum), großen Software-Unternehmen und europäischen Industrieverbänden geführt. Beispielsweise wirkten über 150 Experten, Interessengruppen, im Internet barrierefrei zugängliche Organisationen und 30 auf den Bereich der Barrierefreiheit im Internet spezialisierte Unternehmen an der Erhebung zur wirtschaftlichen Bewertung der Verbesserung von Produkten und Dienstleistungen zur Sicherung der Barrierefreiheit elektronischer Medien („Economic Assessment for Improving e-Accessibility Services and Products“) mit. Auf die öffentliche Konsultation über Barrierefreiheit im Internet und sonstige Aspekte der Barrierefreiheit elektronischer Medien gingen 161 Antworten aus 18 Mitgliedstaaten, Israel und den USA ein. Dabei meldeten sich 48 Experten des Bereichs Behinderungen und/oder IKT, 25 Industrie/Unternehmensvertreter, 23 staatliche Stellen, 20 Nutzerorganisationen, 20 Personen mit und 19 Personen ohne Behinderungen zu Wort. 834 Personen gaben Antworten zu der öffentlichen Online-Konsultation „Post-i2010“ (199) ab. Im Februar 2012 hat der Ausschuss für Folgenabschätzung seine Stellungnahme zum Folgenabschätzungsbericht abgegeben. Derzeit wird der Vorschlag in Zusammenarbeit mit verschiedenen Kommissionsdienststellen ausgearbeitet. Er dürfte im 2. Quartal 2012 der Kommission zur Verabschiedung vorgelegt werden.

(English version)

Question for written answer P-003279/12

to the Commission

Eva Lichtenberger (Verts/ALE)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Action 64 of the Digital Agenda for Europe

Action 64 of the Digital Agenda for Europe aims to ensure that all public websites and websites offering basic services for citizens will be fully accessible by 2015.

— Has the Commission carried out its impact assessment for Action 64?

— Can the Commission give a detailed breakdown providing information on how many and which particular offices have been contacted from the public, private and volunteer sectors?

Answer given by Ms Kroes on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2012)

In 2010 an Impact Assessment process was initiated for policy options for Action 64, with an Impact Assessment Steering Group comprising a wide representation of Commission services and departments. As part of this process, a number of public consultations and studies were carried out according to established standards and with a wide range of stakeholders: Member States (in working groups on ‘e-Inclusion’ (200) and ‘Inclusive communications’ (201)), experts on ICT and/or disabilities, civil society organisations, ICT companies providing web-accessibility products and services, public authorities and citizens/users. In addition direct consultations have been held with major civil society organisations (like the European Blind Union and the European Disability Forum), large software industries and European industry associations. For example, over 150 experts, stakeholders, ‘web-accessible’ organisations, and 30 IT companies specialised in web-accessibility participated in the survey ‘Economic Assessment for Improving e-Accessibility Services and Products’. The Public Consultation on web-accessibility and other e-accessibility issues had 161 respondents from 18 Member States, Israel and the USA, among which 48 experts on disability and/or ICT; 25 industry/enterprise representatives, 23 public authorities, 20 user organisations, 20 persons with and 19 people without disabilities. Finally 834 people responded to the online public Post-i2010 consultation (202). In February 2012, the impact assessment Board issued its opinion on the impact assessment Report. Currently, the proposal is being prepared with different Commission services. Submission to Commission adoption is expected within the second quarter of 2012.

(Deutsche Fassung)

Anfrage zur schriftlichen Beantwortung E-003280/12

an die Kommission

Franz Obermayr (NI)

(27. März 2012)

Betrifft: Jährlich Hunderte tote Kinder durch „Halal-Fleisch“

Die für die Schlachtung von Tieren geltenden europäischen Hygiene‐ und Tierschutzrichtlinien garantieren dem Verbraucher große Hygiene‐ und Qualitätsstandards für Fleisch und verlangen für das Tier möglichst humane Bedingungen bei der Tötung — sprich Betäubung. Ausgesetzt werden diese Standards bei religiösen Schlachtungen, dem sogenannten Schächten. Medienberichten zufolge wird angenommen, dass in Frankreich jährlich Hunderte Kinder an den Folgen des Konsums von Halal-Fleisch sterben.

„Halal“ ist eine arabische Bezeichnung für unter religiösen Gesichtspunkten zum Verzehr geeignete Lebensmittel, in diesem Fall also Fleisch geschächteter Tiere. Erhebliche Gesundheitsgefahr entsteht vor allem dadurch, dass beim Schächten effektiv die Speiseröhre des Tieres abgebunden werden kann. So gelangen kotige Flüssigkeiten, also sterkorale Materialen in das Fleisch. Der Anstieg von mit Escherichia coli, also lebensgefährlichen Bakterien, belastetem Fleisch im französischen Handel wird nicht zuletzt auf die steigende Produktion und den Konsum von Schächtprodukten zurückgeführt. Für den Verbraucher werden Fleischprodukte religiöser Schlachtung nicht ausreichend gekennzeichnet.

Daraus ergeben sich folgende Fragen:

Antwort von Herrn Dalli im Namen der Kommission

(2. Mai 2012)

Nach den EU-Rechtsvorschriften (203) über die Lebensmittelhygiene dürfen Luft‐ und Speiseröhre beim Entbluten nicht verletzt werden. Diese Bestimmung gilt nicht für die Schlachtung nach religiösen Gebräuchen. In den EU-Rechtsvorschriften zum Tierschutz (204) ist außerdem eine Ausnahme für das Betäuben bei der Schlachtung nach religiösen Gebräuchen vorgesehen. Auch wenn von der Ausnahme Gebrauch gemacht wird, muss das Entbluten unverzüglich und auf eine Art und Weise erfolgen, dass das Fleisch nicht verunreinigt wird. Dementsprechend müssen die Lebensmittelunternehmer, die die Ausnahmeregelung nutzen, dafür sorgen, dass eine Verunreinigung vermieden wird.

Die zuständigen Behörden in den Mitgliedstaaten müssen durch amtliche Kontrollen sicherstellen, dass die Lebensmittelunternehmer die Bestimmungen der EU-Rechtsvorschriften befolgen. Vor allem müssen sie überprüfen, dass Hygienevorschriften und ‐verfahren stets eingehalten werden.

Die EFSA (205) erstellt anhand der von den Mitgliedstaaten erhobenen Daten jährliche zusammenfassende Berichte über Zoonose-Infektionen und lebensmittelbedingte Ausbrüche zur Überwachung der Entwicklung der Lage in Europa (206). Aus diesen Berichten geht nicht hervor, dass „Halal-Fleisch“ bei den lebensmittelbedingten Ausbrüchen eine wesentliche Rolle spielt.

Die Rechtsvorschriften der EU über die Lebensmittelkennzeichnung (207) gelten für alle zur Abgabe an den Endverbraucher bestimmten Lebensmittel, d. h. auch für „Halal-Fleisch“. Allerdings ist nicht vorgeschrieben, die Methode anzugeben, nach der die zur Herstellung solcher Lebensmittel genutzten Tiere geschlachtet wurden. In der vor kurzem erlassenen Verordnung betreffend die Information der Verbraucher über Lebensmittel (208) heißt es, dass im Rahmen einer künftigen Strategie der Union für den Tierschutz und das Wohlergehen der Tiere die Durchführung einer Studie in Betracht gezogen werden sollte, in der die Möglichkeiten geprüft werden, die Verbraucher über die Betäubung der Tiere zu informieren.

Die Kommission hat inzwischen die erwähnte Strategie (209) beschlossen und plant eine solche Studie für 2013. 

(English version)

Question for written answer E-003280/12

to the Commission

Franz Obermayr (NI)

(27 March 2012)

Subject: Hundreds of child deaths each year due to consumption of ‘halal meat’

The European health and animal welfare directives governing the slaughter of livestock guarantee the consumer meat which complies with stringent health and quality standards and stipulate that animals must be slaughtered using the most humane method possible — in other words after they have first been stunned. These standards do not apply to religious slaughtering practices, so-called halal butchering. According to media reports, it is generally assumed that hundreds of children die in France each year after consuming halal meat.

‘Halal’ is an Arabic term for foods deemed suitable for consumption from a religious standpoint, in this case the meat from appropriately slaughtered animals. Significant health risks arise in particular because an animal’s oesophagus can effectively be closed off during this form of slaughter. This allows contaminated fluids, in other words stercoral material, to enter the meat. One of the main reasons for the increase in the volume of meat contaminated with the life-threatening bacteria Escherichia coli appearing on the French market is the rise in the production and consumption of meat products from animals slaughtered in accordance with religious practices. Meat products of this kind are not adequately labelled for the consumer.

Answer given by Mr Dalli on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2012)

EU food hygiene legislation (210) provides that the trachea and oesophagus must remain intact during bleeding. This rule is not applicable when slaughter takes place according to religious custom. Also, EU legislation on animal welfare (211) provides for an exception from stunning in the case of religious slaughter. However, even if the exception is applied bleeding must always be carried out without undue delay and in a manner that avoids contaminating the meat. It is the responsibility of food business operators using the derogation to ensure that contamination does not occur.

It is the responsibility of the Competent Authorities in Member States to carry out official controls to ensure that food business operators comply with EU legislation requirements. In particular they must verify that hygiene rules and procedures are always respected.

Based on data collected by Member States, EFSA (212) prepares annual EU Summary Reports on zoonotic infections and food-borne outbreaks monitoring the evolving situation in Europe (213). There is no indication in these reports that halal meat has a significant role in food-borne outbreaks.

The EU legal framework for food labelling (214) covers all foods to be delivered as such to the final consumer, including halal meats. However, there is no legal obligation to indicate the method of slaughter of animals used in the production of such foods. The recently adopted Regulation on the provision of food information to consumers (215) indicates that a study on the opportunity to provide the consumer with information on the stunning of animals should be considered in the context of a future Union strategy for the protection and welfare of animals.

The Commission has now adopted this strategy (216) and plans to carry out this study in 2013.

(Ελληνική έκδοση)

Ερώτηση με αίτημα γραπτής απάντησης E-003281/12

προς την Επιτροπή

Antigoni Papadopoulou (S&D)

(27 Μαρτίου 2012)

Θέμα: Δημοσίευμα στον τουρκικό τύπο για άνοιγμα της περίκλειστης πόλης της Αμμοχώστου

Η Τουρκική εφημερίδα Millyet σε δημοσίευμά της (26.3.2012), υπό τον τίτλο ₫Άνοιγμα της πόλης-φάντασμα₻, αναφέρει πως η λεγόμενη ₫Τουρκική Δημοκρατία της Βόρειας Κύπρου, θα προχωρήσει την 1η Ιουλίου σε άνοιγμα της περίκλειστης πόλης της Αμμοχώστου, όταν οι Ελληνοκύπριοι αναλάβουν την Προεδρία της ΕΕ₻. Στο συγκεκριμένο δημοσίευμα αναφέρεται πως ₫θα ανοίξει τα Βαρώσια για εγκατάσταση και όλοι οι Ελληνοκύπριοι θα μπορούν να επιστρέψουν στα σπίτια τους₻. Σύμφωνα με το δημοσίευμα της ₫Μιλιέτ₻, η τουρκική πλευρά θα επιτρέψει την εγκατάσταση σε όσους Ελληνοκυπρίους έχουν περιουσία στην κλειστή περιοχή, υπό τον έλεγχο της τουρκοκυπριακής πλευράς. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, ερωτάται η Επιτροπή: