WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3762/97 by Allan MACARTNEY to the Commission. Disposal of OP Sheep Dip and pollution of ground water
16. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 187/51 He had previously served a prison sentence on charges relating to his peaceful work for human rights. His latest arrest warrant referred to the film festival he had organized, accused him of ábenefittingí North Korea and of failing to report regularly to the police under the terms of his previous release. Five others had previously been detained during the film festival, shown in Seoul in October, after the organizers refused to submit their films for government censorship. Can the Council outline what action it is taking on the case of Suh Jun-Sik and to defend freedom of expression in South Korea? Answer (19 March 1998) The Council shares the Honourable Memberís concern about respect for human rights. The case to which she refers in her question - and all other cases of alleged lack of respect for individual human rights - deserve the closest attention. The case could, if substantiated, of course be raised in the ongoing contacts the Union has with the South Korean government. (98/C 187/82) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3762/97 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (21 November 1997) Subject: Disposal of OP Sheep Dip and pollution of ground water With reference to Commission letter P1242/90 (DGXI), what proceedings, if any, have or are being taken by the European Commission against the United Kingdom for breaching the Ground Water Directive? In particular, is any action being taken which concerned specifically Scotland and the use of OP sheep dip resulting in pollution of ground water? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (15 January 1998) The complaint registered under Commission file P1242/90 has been pursued under file reference 90/5242. Following supplementary correspondence with the british government under Article 169 of the EC Treaty, the Commission has decided that a reasoned opinion should be sent to the United Kingdom. This decision is currently in the course of execution. The Commission considers that the legislative transposition in the United Kingdom (including Scotland) of Directive 80/68/EEC on the protection of groundwater against pollution caused by certain dangerous substances (1) is inadequate, in particular because prior authorization and investigation of disposal is not required in all the situations provided for in the Directive. Furthermore, it appears to the Commission that there has been inadequate application of the requirements of the Directive in relation to sheep dip disposal (including in Scotland). (1) OJ L 20, 26. 1. 1980