WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3195/97 by Bernie MALONE to the Commission. SLIM
25. 5. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 158/53 Should the Commission not investigate this project and take the necessary measures to prevent this Habitat area from being damaged? (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 3. (2) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (15 December 1997) The Belgian authorities have designated an area of 5670 hectares named Demervalleií as special protection area, pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. According to Article 7 of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora, such areas shall benefit from the provisions of Article 6 paragraphs 2. 3 and 4 of the same Directive according to which national authorities shall avoid the deterioration of natural habitats and of habitats of species in those areas. Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site but likely to have a significant effect thereon is subject to a detailed procedure further described in this article. The Commission will investigate the matter with the Belgian authorities with a view to determining whether the proper procedure was applied in the present case. The project is proposed for European regional development fund (ERDF) financing under the single programme document of Limburg. No payment as yet has been made. On the basis of the available information, the procedures to be followed under national legislation are not completed yet. Moreover, adjustments to the project with a view to mitigate its environmental impact are still under discussion. (98/C 158/65) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3195/97 by Bernie Malone (PSE) to the Commission (16 October 1997) Subject: SLIM Can the Commission clarify what effects, if any, the SLIM process will have on the role of the European Midwivesí Liaison Committee and its Advisory Committee, vis-a‘-vis the Commission? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (18 November 1997) Firstly, the European Midwivesí Liaison Committee › the European professional midwivesí organisation › has no institutional links with the Commission. It should be distinguished in this respect from the Advisory Committee on the Training of Midwives, set up to liaise with the Commission by Council Decision 80/156/EEC of 21 January 1980 (1) at the time of adoption of the following sectoral directives: Council Directive 80/154/EEC concerning the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications in midwifery and including measures to facilitate the effective exercise of the right of establishment and freedom to provide services1 and Council Directive 80/155/EEC concerning the coordination of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to the taking-up and pursuit of the activities of midwives. 1 As regards the impact of SLIM (Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market) on the role of the Advisory Committee on the Training of Midwives, the Commission indicated in its communication to the Council and Parliament on the SLIM initiative (2) that it would present proposals in 1997 designed to rationalise the workings of the various advisory committees on the training of doctors, nurses, dentists, veterinary surgeons, midwives and pharmacists. The Commission is currently engaged in work on this issue and has not yet reached an official conclusion on the matter. (1) OJ L 33, 11. 2. 1980. (2) COM(96) 559 final