WRITTEN QUESTION No. 270/98 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA to the Commission. Supersession of national commercial rules on the quality of processed products in the Member States by Community law
C 323/30 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 21. 10. 98 The Commission provides support (MECU almost 5. 5 to date) to civil society organisations and to human rights monitoring and advocacy groups in Croatia, as well as to independent media, and intends to continue its support in these fields. The Honourable Member is further referred to the reply given to written question E-3946/97 by M. Swoboda (1) and to the Commissionís intervention during the debate in plenary concerning human rights and civic society in Croatia on 18 December 1997. (1) OJ C 187, 16. 6. 1998, p. 99. (98/C 323/36) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0270/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (13 February 1998) Subject: Supersession of national commercial rules on the quality of processed products in the Member States by Community law At present, the EU Member States operate different rules and regulations on the quality of processed fisheries and aquaculture products placed on the market. Some of these market quality rules › as distinguished from those strictly relating to health and hygiene › are more restrictive in some Member States than in others. In some cases, the national rules date from before the country concerned joined the Community, which was itself then organised and structured very differently from how it is today. Can the Commission state whether these national commercial rules on quality may be considered to have been superseded by Community law, especially as they imply discrimination between Member States and hinder or obstruct the marketing and distribution of food products without any justification on health grounds? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (22 April 1998) The commercial quality of preserved fishery and aquaculture products is largely governed by the provisions of Regulation (EEC) No 2136/89 of 21 June 1989 laying down common marketing standards for preserved sardines (1) and Regulation (EEC) No 1536/92 of 9 June 1992 laying down common marketing standards for preserved tuna and bonito (2). These provisions are binding in all Member States and invalidate any national standard which would not be in conformity with the above Community legislation. (1) OJ L 212, 22. 7. 1989. (2) OJ L 163, 17. 6. 1992. (98/C 323/37) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0297/98 by Leonie van Bladel (UPE) to the Council (17 February 1998) Subject: Putting an end to terrorist activities planned in London 1. Can the Council President indicate how attacks were planned by groups who originated in Algeria, Bahrain and Egypt but used London as a base for plotting terrorist attacks to be carried out in the various countries? 2. Is the Council President prepared to indicate how an end might be put to the situation described above?