WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3954/97 by Pierre BERNARD-REYMOND to the Commission. Commission reasoned opinion of 17 February 1997 prohibiting the 'Mutualité' sickness insurance scheme from owning dental and medical practices or pharmacies as of 1 June 1997
9. 10. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 310/5 (98/C 310/05) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3951/97 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (12 December 1997) Subject: Clarification of the limits of the Argentinian EEZ The reason for the seizure of the Community vessel Arpo·n by the Argentinian authorities whilst it was fishing in international waters near the Argentinian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) was the fact that the zone has been imprecisely demarcated by the Argentinians, and this has given rise to a lengthy, costly and unwelcome conflict. Can the Commission say what measures it has taken or is considering taking to ensure that the exact limits of the EEZ in Argentinian waters are clearly demarcated and hence provide the necessary security for the Community vessels fishing in international waters near that zone? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (26 January 1998) On 16 September 1996, Argentina lodged the geographical details of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) with the United Nations in accordance with Article 75 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Community has a primary interest in ensuring compliance with the international law of the sea. However, it has no authority to resolve disputes concerning the boundaries of that exclusive economic zone. As the Honourable Member knows, the European Community and Argentina are involved in a joint project to create a multilateral system of cooperation in managing and protecting the resources of the south-west Atlantic. The Commission will raise the problem in this context, at the most appropriate time. (98/C 310/06) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3954/97 by Pierre Bernard-Reymond (PPE) to the Commission (12 December 1997) Subject: Commission reasoned opinion of 17 February 1997 prohibiting the Mutualite·í sickness insurance scheme from owning dental and medical practices or pharmacies as of 1 June 1997 Is it true that a reasoned opinion prohibiting the Mutualityí sickness insurance scheme from owning dental practices as of 1 June 1997 was delivered by the European Commission on 17 February 1997? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998) The Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against France, under Article 169 of the EC Treaty, for incomplete transposal of certain insurance Directives, namely Council Directive 92/49/EEC of 18 June 1992 on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to direct insurance other than life assurance and amending Directives 73/239/EEC and 88/357/EEC (third non-life insurance Directive (1)) and Council Directive 92/96/EEC of 10 November 1992 on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to direct life assurance and amending Directives 79/267/EEC and 90/619/EEC (third life assurance Directive (2)). A reasoned opinion was delivered to France on 5 March 1997. These Directives, which lay down the principles that authorisation is granted and prudential and financial supervision carried out by the insurance undertakingís home Member State, have been applicable since 1 July 1994. Their scope, as far as France is concerned, covers the following forms of undertaking: ásocie·te· anonymeí, ásocie·te· díassurance mutuelleí, áinstitution de pre·voyance re·gie par le code ruralí and ámutuelles re·gies par le code de la mutualite·í