WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3153/97 by Klaus LUKAS to the Commission. Recall of the head of delegation in Bratislava
16. 4. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 117/157 (98/C 117/212) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3153/97 by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission (13 October 1997) Subject: Recall of the head of delegation in Bratislava Why was the head of the Commission delegation in Bratislava, Mr Georgios Zavvos, recently recalled? Can the Commission confirm Slovak reports that its head of delegation was involved in or covered up financial irregularities in the PHARE programmes in Slovakia? Which programmes, which beneficiaries and what appropriations were involved? Does the Commission intend to get to the bottom of these cases and report to Parliament on them? If so, when and how will Parliament be informed? How long has the Commission known about the irregularities in Bratislava? What action has it already taken and what action does it intend to take? What disciplinary action does the Commission intend to take against those involved? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (13 November 1997) Mr Georgios Zavvos was nominated head of the Commissionís delegation in Slovakia in December 1994. He took over new functions as political adviser on enlargement issues in Brussels on 1 October 1997. This transfer was decided in the interest of the service. The Commission is currently conducting an investigation concerning the matters to which the Honourable Member refers and therefore cannot make any definite comments at this time. When the investigation is concluded, the Commission will ensure that the Parliament is informed. (98/C 117/213) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3155/97 by Esko Seppa¤nen (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (13 October 1997) Subject: Finland and limits to the cadmium content of fertilizers Finnish soil has a different acidity level from the calcaneous soils of Central Europe. For this reason cadmium and other heavy metals have a more destructive effect on our ground water. Is the Commission aware of this problem, and what is it doing to ensure that the limits currently applicable in Finland to the cadmium content in fertilizers are upheld? Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (7 November 1997) The Commission is reviewing the Community legislation on fertilizers, in so far as it concerns cadmium, in the framework of the Accession treaties of Finland, Sweden and Austria. In carrying out this review the Commission has agreed to look very closely at the situation in these three Member States. A special study has been launched on the regional problems posed by the use of fertilizers containing cadmium in particular Member States, notably in Finland. The objective of the study is to determine whether there are special conditions in these Member States such as high cadmium deposition through acid rain, high cadmium content of soils, high availability of cadmium in soils, evidence of high content of cadmium in crops, evidence of damage to the aquatic environment, or evidence of damage to health, especially among vulnerable groups