WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2219/96 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. ESF assistance for retraining and re-employment of workers (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
C 21/2 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 22. 1. 98 (98/C 21/02) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2219/96 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (9 August 1996) Subject: ESF assistance for retraining and re-employment of workers In a trade-union tract the workers of the ailing IRITECNA/FINTECNA-IRI Group, who have been drawing the short-time working allowance since October 1993, claim that the Union has allocated LIT 4 500 billion under the European Social Fund to enable them to retrain and find new employment. 1. Has the above contribution in fact been granted? 2. If so, it is possible to ascertain how it is being used, given that the employees of the firms concerned (many of whom will soon lose their unemployment benefit) are wondering what has happened to the money and fear that it will be administered under a bankruptcy arrangement, as has previously been the case when funding of this type has been provided? Supplementary answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (4 August 1997) Further to its answer of 1 October 1996 (1), the Commission is now able to provide the following additional information. The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to her Written Question E-1408/97 (2). (1) OJ C 365, 4. 12. 1996. (2) OJ C 391, 23. 12. 1997, p. 82. (98/C 21/03) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0613/97 by Joaqu ·n Siso· Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission (27 February 1997) Subject: Growth hormone used for salmon The European Farmersí Coordination (CPE) has asked the Commission to prohibit the use of ásalmon somatotrophineí, a genetically-engineered hormone which speeds up and boosts growth in salmon. The CPE claims that the industrialization of salmon farming has led to a considerable reduction in quality, resulted in a high concentration of production in Norway and also spread diseases related to industrial fish farming to the wild salmon population. It therefore criticizes the industrialization of fish farming in general. In view of European consumersí scepticism about and lack of confidence in new biotechnology techniques as a result of the adverse effects of using the BST milk hormone, can the Commission state what position is being taken on the use of growth hormones in salmon farming? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (14 April 1997) Somatosalm is a hormone intended solely to help young salmon adapt from fresh water to sea water. At the request of the company holding the patent, an application to classify the substance was made under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin (1). Following a scientific