WRITTEN QUESTION No. 945/98 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO to the Commission. Nicaragua's foreign debt
C 310/148 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 10. 98 the safety and health of workers must be ensured as far as possible in the light of the objectives of the Directive. This means that police force activities largely fall outside the scope of Community law on the health and safety of workers at work and are therefore covered by substitute measures of a strictly national nature. The Commission does not feel that any provisions of Community law have been violated. The responsibility for solving the problem raised by the Honourable Member lies exclusively with the Italian authorities. (1) OJ L 183, 29. 6. 1989. (98/C 310/204) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0937/98 by Jose· Escudero (PPE) to the Commission (16 March 1998) Subject: Cultural cooperation with Latin America Can the Commission provide information on the arrangements for participating in cultural cooperation with Latin America through the existing funds? Are there public tendering procedures or aid and/or cofinancing programmes for approved and published projects which would enable citizens and cultural organizations to gain access to participation in and the distribution of such funds? Answer given by Mr Mar ·n on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1998) Between 1992 and 1997 the Commission provided a total of ECU 3. 5 million to finance a number of cultural cooperation projects with Latin American countries. The main areas of cooperation were: Latin American cultural identity and cultural dialogue, the common heritage of Europe and Latin America, the image of Latin America in Europe, the cultural heritage and cultural tourism. Furthermore, in accordance with Article 5 of Council Regulation No 443/92 (EEC) of 25 February 1992 on financial and technical assistance to, and economic cooperation with, the developing countries in Asia and Latin America (1), the Commission devotes particular attention to the cultural aspects of all the development projects it finances in Latin America. As regards applications for and allocation of project financing, the Commission applied the rules and standards in force at the time. (1) OJ L 52, 27. 2. 1992. (98/C 310/205) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0945/98 by Jesu·s Cabezo·n Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: Nicaraguaís foreign debt In Nicaraguaís budget for 1997, servicing foreign debt accounted for 11. 2% of GDP, while the international cooperation funds received amounted to 8% of GDP. The annual burden posed by servicing and repaying debt represents a substantial percentage of the amount gained through exports, which places a constraint on Nicaraguaís opportunities for development. Foreign debt currently stands at $6108. 5 million, 66. 9% of which corresponds to bilateral debt. How is the Commission cooperating with Nicaragua with a view to cancelling the balance and servicing of Nicaraguaís foreign debt, which would make it possible to lay the foundations for sustainable development in that country?