WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2018/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Council. Regulation No 258/97 on novel foods
8. 4. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 96/25 (1999/C 96/033) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2018/98 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (29 June 1998) Subject: Regulation No 258/97 on novel foods Will the Commission please explain how the provisions of Article 8 of Regulation No 258/97 (1) will work in practice. In particular: › what form of words is recommended to comply with the provisions of the last subparagraph of Article 8(1)(a), which require labelling to indicate the characteristics or properties modified and the method by which the characteristics or properties were obtained? › what criteria will be applied to the assessments required under Article 8(1)(b) and (c) (special health implications and ethical concerns) and who will apply them? (1) OJ L 43, 14. 2. 1997, p. 1. Reply (19 October 1998) In accordance with the rules of the Treaty, it is for Member States to take the measures required to implement the Regulation referred to by the Honourable Member and for the Commission to ensure such implementation, subject to possible verification by the Court. (1999/C 96/034) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2030/98 by Yiannis Roubatis (PSE) to the Council (6 July 1998) Subject: Dismissal of distinguished Turkish journalists On the basis of concocted áinformationí supplied by an alleged leading member of the PKK, the Turkish generals have forced the employers of two distinguished Turkish journalists, Mehmet Ali Birad and Ghengiz ˙antar, to dismiss them. In addition, there are fears that their dismissal also signals the go-ahead for the áliquidationí of the two Turkish journalists by rogue elements in Turkey who are operating in close cooperation with the official authorities, as the events at Sokuluk have demonstrated. All these events are taking place at the same time as Turkey and some of its economic partners are insisting that the leaders of the country are sincere in wanting Turkey to have closer relations with the Union. 1. What practical measures will the Council take to protect the two journalists from a probable assassination attempt? 2. When will the Council explain to the Turkish leadership › in plain terms › that the principles on which Europeís democracies are based also include freedom of expression and thought and that it is not possible to ignore, for economic or any other form of gain, Turkeyís renewed drift towards autocracy and totalitarianism? Reply (9 November 1998) The Council does not possess information enabling it to assess either the reasons for the dismissal of the 1. journalists Mehmet Ali Birad and Ghengiz ˙antar, or the extent to which their lives are in danger. 2. The Council would point out that the European Council, at its meeting in Luxembourg on 12 and 13 December 1997, reiterated that, in accordance with the position adopted by the Council at the Association Council meeting with Turkey on 29 April 1997, the strengthening of Turkeyís links with the EU also depended on the alignment of Turkeyís standards and practices in respect of human rights with those in force in the European Union. It regrets that Turkey is currently refusing to continue its political dialogue with the Union in this area