WRITTEN QUESTION No. 87/98 by Carlos ROBLES PIQUER to the Commission. European Waste Catalogue
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/107 In accordance with the Unionís common position on Cuba of 2 December 1996, the Council will continue to encourage, using the means at its disposal, a process of peaceful transition to pluralist democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Cuba. The Council hopes through this dialogue to remind the Cuban authorities of their responsibilities to the Cuban people and of their international commitments; it hopes also to convince them that only genuine progress towards democracy will ensure a peaceful transition that preserves Cubaís interests. The release of dozens of political prisoners was announced following the visit to Cuba by Pope John Paul II; the Council hopes this will be followed by other practical steps towards democracy and respect for human rights. (98/C 223/136) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0087/98 by Carlos Robles Piquer (PPE) to the Commission (30 January 1998) Subject: European Waste Catalogue In 1994, the European Union adopted a European Waste Catalogue with a view to the recycling of waste. Similarly, Community directives have existed for almost twenty years which many countries have incorporated in their respective national legislations through regulations governing the demolition of buildings. In accordance with the above-mentioned catalogue, the principle that buildings should be built in such a manner so as to allow them to be recycled when taken apart, should be paramount. However, the situation in this regard varies greatly from country to country: While in some Member States, such as Spain, only 5% of building materials are recycled, in others, such as the Netherlands, this figure can be as high as 60%. Now that three years have passed since the adoption of the European Waste Catalogue, can the Commission say what the overall level of compliance is in the Member States, and, taking account of this, what changes or adjustments might be necessary to achieve the goal of making the sight of an excavator tearing down a building a thing of the past? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (5 March 1998) The European waste catalogue derives from Decision 94/3/EC establishing a list of wastes in pursuance of Article 1a of Council Directive 75/442/EEC on waste (1), as amended by Council Directive 91/156/EEC (2). Building and demolition wastes are listed under heading 17 00 00 in that catalogue. Building and demolition wastes have received the Commissionís particular attention via its programme on priority waste flows launched in early 1991. Groups of projects concerning the following waste flows were formed: wornout tyres, discarded vehicles, chlorinated solvents, health-care wastes, electrical and electronic equipment wastes, and building and demolition wastes. All of those involved in building and demolition-waste flows have been invited to join a project group headed by Germany. The results of the groupís activities led to the publication, in October 1995 of a report containing an information document, a strategy document and recommendations. That document recommends that the Member States adopt the classification referred to above in order to ease the comparison of statistical data and thus assist in managing and planning that flow of wastes within the Community. Currently the situations within the various Member States differ very widely and are difficult to compare. The Commission is currently contemplating action enabling the management of that waste flow within the Community to be improved. (1) OJ L 5, 7. 1. 1994. (2) OJ L 78, 26. 3. 1991