WRITTEN QUESTION E-2474/99 by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Safety standards in old people's homes.
C 203 E/174 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 (2000/C 203 E/225) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2474/99 by Manuel PØrez `lvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Safety standards in old peopleís homes (16 December 1999) Disturbing news reports appear daily of deaths of senior citizens, operational difficulties and other problems in old peopleís homes. Can the Commission state whether there is any Community regulation harmonising the minimum safety standards for old peopleís homes in the Member States, or whether it intends to propose any such measure? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (14 January 2000) Minimum standards, and systems for monitoring and enforcing adherence to them, are found at appropriate national and regional levels in most Member States. There is no Community competence. The Commission is aware of attempts by some European associations of professionals in residential care ü such as the European association of directors of residential care homes for the elderly (EDE) ü to develop European codes of good practice and a system of certification for the training of residential care personnel, but it is not involved in these endeavours. (2000/C 203 E/226) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2570/99 by W. G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Secretariat of the Energy Charter The Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad reported on 20 November that the Netherlands Government is concerned at in Brussels. A year ago the management consultancy firm of Arthur D. Little issued a report on the management of the Secretariat at the request of the then chairman of the Governmental Council of the Energy Charter, Mr Rutten. the Energy Charter Secretariat the poor management at 1. What progress has been made on the Energy Charter Protocol? Is the Commission aware of the Arthur D. Little study on the operation of the Secretariat of the 2. Energy Charter? 3. What is the status of this report, and when can it be made available to the Member States and the European Parliament? Is it true that the Finnish Presidency has requested Mr Schütterle, Secretary-General of the Energy 4. Charter, to communicate the report to the Member States? 5. Is it true that Germany considers it inappropriate to publish this report? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (10 January 2000) The Commission has been informed of the existence of the report by a consultancy firm concerning the management of the Energy Charter Secretariat. This report is classified as confidential and has not been transmitted to the Commission