WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1279/97 by Ulla SANDBÆK to the Council. Implementing provisions and the intergovernmental conference
22. 1. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 21/35 Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (12 June 1997) The legislation alluded to by the Honourable Member (Article 2 of Law No 2465/1997 issued by the Greek Ministry of Transport and Communications › Greek Official Gazette No 28 of 26 February 1997, p. 415) would indeed seem to reinforce the restrictive nature of the earlier measures adopted by the Greek authorities limiting the sale of certain heavy vehicles previously registered in another Member State. The relevant earlier measures comprise, in particular, Article 1(5), (6) and (7) of Law No 2052/1992 (as amended), and Ministerial Decision No 12792/958. The Commission has instituted infringement proceedings under Article 169 of the EC Treaty, since the legislation in question may constitute a measure having equivalent effect to quantitative restrictions and so be contrary to Articles 30 and 36 of the EC Treaty. The Greek authorities’ response is currently being examined. (98/C 21/108) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1279/97 by Ulla Sandbæk (I-EDN) to the Council (10 April 1997) Subject: Implementing provisions and the intergovernmental conference Is it possible that changes to the Treaty arising from the intergovernmental conference will affect the current formulation of implementing provisions governing restrictions on travel and residence within the Community for nationals of the Member States? Would the existing directives on residence then be automatically repealed, or, if not, will the Court of Justice be able to make the provisions directly applicable and thus repeal the implementing directives? Answer (6 August 1997) The Council is not in a position to reply to the Honourable Memberís question regarding the course taken by the Intergovernmental Conference, since it does not fall within the Councilís competence. (98/C 21/109) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1287/97 by Anne McIntosh (PPE) to the Commission (11 April 1997) Subject: Developments since the Cork Declaration on Rural Development With reference to the European Conference on Rural Development in November 1996, what progress has been made towards formulating a programme that places emphasis on sustainable rural development and meets the objectives as laid down at Cork? It will be necessary to adjust the common agricultural policy (CAP) and the agricultural sector accordingly to implement this rural development programme. Will the Commission therefore confirm that the development programme will be introduced as part of its reform of the CAP, and that the principle of subsidiarity and the need to preserve and improve the quality of the rural environment will be observed? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 June 1997) As stated at the Cork conference, rural development policy must be integrated, substainable, coherent and efficient. It must be simple and transparent and cater for the wide range of landscapes and activities in rural areas. Moreover, the Commission is convinced that rural development policy must help promote socio-economic cohesion within the Community and facilitate the necessary adjustments of the common agricultural policy (CAP) which will have implications on agricultural production at large