WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2079/97 by Mair MORGAN to the Commission. Expert groups
25. 2. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 60/91 2. Each protected area is governed by a protected area management board (PAMB). The involvement of the indigenous peoples in the management of the National integrated protected area system (NIPAS) is through their representation in the PAMB in their respective area. Section 11 of Republic Act number 7586 of 1992, prescribes that one representative of each tribal community shall be a member of the PAMB. There is no provision for the percentage of posts held by indigenous communities, but each distinct community has a seat on the PAMB. 3. Besides the appraisals described under point 1, NIPAP maintains regular contact with the indigenous communities through their representatives at the PAMB. The national co-director of NIPAP sits as a non-voting member at the PAMB, and exchanges information regarding plans and activities of NIPAP. The PAMB is due to meet at least twice a year, but in practice meetings take place more frequently. NIPAP further maintains contact with the indigenous communities at grass roots level through the implementation of information, education and communication (IEC) activities. 4. During the inception phase of the NIPAP, a series of consultations have been held informing the communities and their representatives about the planned project activities. Following these initial consultations, NIPAP is holding further consultations and organising workshops with those directly concerned. These occasions have been used to distribute documentation containing detailed information about the bilateral agreement between the Commission and the Philippines on NIPAP. Furthermore, this information has been disseminated through the IEC activities. (98/C 60/129) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2079/97 by Mair Morgan (PSE) to the Commission (19 June 1997) Subject: Expert groups How many expert and advisory groups are used by the Commission in total and in each DG? How many of these groups are used for the purpose of project selection? Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (31 July 1997) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the list of committees contained in Annex 1 to the general budget of the European Union for the financial year 1997, and to the note on the operation of committees in 1995 that was sent to Parliament on 28 June 1996. (98/C 60/130) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2081/97 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (19 June 1997) Subject: Flags of convenience and the EU fleet As the Commission will know, Community shipowners and seamen are unjustly penalized by increasingly stiff competition from vessels flying flags of convenience, owing mainly from the fact that they are subject to much heavier taxation than shipowners and seamen from non-Community countries. Given the above, would the Commission not agree that: 1. appropriate fiscal, social and administrative measures should be taken to put an end to the discrimination from which Community shipowners and seamen are currently suffering? 2. with a view to ensuring that the Union and Member Statesí flags are flown by the gigantic Community fleet sailing on the worldís seas, the relief measures provided for in the 1989 Directive should be implemented as soon as possible, so as to enable Community vessels compete on equal terms with the huge number of vessels flying flags of convenience?