WRITTEN QUESTION E-2155/99 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Savoia family exile.
C 170 E/148 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 Article 6(1) of the Commission Decision 97/0579/EC of 23 July 1997 setting up scientific committees in the field of consumer health and food safety (1) stipulates that the members of the committees áshall act independently of all external influenceí. In order to ensure such independence, members are obliged to make three separate declarations of all to their independence: a declaration of interest as part of the original expression of interest (application) to become a member of a scientific committee; an annual declaration of interest, and a declaration of any particular interest which could be regarded as prejudicial to the expertís independence in respect of an item on the agenda of a meeting of his or her committee. their interests that could be considered prejudicial The question of the Honourable Member concerns the annual declarations of interest of past and current members of the scientific committee on food. Article 6 paragraph 2 of the above mentioned Decision stipulates that each member of a scientific committee is required to inform áeach year the Commission of all the interests which could be considered prejudicial to their independenceí. This general rule applies to all nine scientific committees. Nevertheless, each committee has adopted its own rules of procedure. The rules of procedure of the scientific committee on food, adopted on 17 September 1998, stipulate that: inform the Commission in writing of any interest which could be regarded as prejudicial to their independence. Interest may be of a direct or indirect financial nature or in some cases concern ethical mattersí. Each year, the members shall It has to be emphasised that the scientific committees adopt their internal rules of procedure with complete independence. The members of the scientific committee on food submitted their declarations for the first time after the adoption of the rules of procedure and for the second time in April 1999. The annual statements are not automatically accessible to the public. As they contain personal information, the declarations can only be provided to third parties if the member has given his or her express agreement. The rules of procedure contain, as an annex, a form entitled áannual statement of membersí interestsí. The form provides for the agreement of the member to allow the declaration to be made publicly available. On the occasion of the last annual statement, most of the members agreed that their declarations could be accessible to the public. In these cases, the Commission can inform third parties on request. Regarding past members, no particular obligations concerning this matter are in force. (1) OJ L 237, 28. 8. 1997. (2000/C 170 E/180) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2155/99 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Savoia family exile Since 1946 the Savoia family, who until then had reigned over Italy, have been living in exile. This exile seems absurd, unjustified and, furthermore, in breach of international human rights conventions. In the context of a united Europe with a sound democracy based on solidarity and citizensí rights, would the Commission state: 1. whether there are any European directives stipulating that European citizens who have not committed any crimes are entitled to move freely within the EU; 2. whether it does not consider that the case might be referred to the European Court of Justice; 3. its general views on the matter. 20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/149 Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (30 November 1999) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question No P-2703/97 by Mr Florio (1). (1) OJ C 60, 25. 2. 1998. (2000/C 170 E/181) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2174/99 by Salvador JovØ Peres (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Legislative acts which may affect competition (29 November 1999) What would the Commissionís opinion be of a situation where a regulation granted a tariff reduction on the raw materials used by only one firm in a certain sector, without clear justification? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (6 December 1999) It is not Commission policy to answer hypothetical questions. (2000/C 170 E/182) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2187/99 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) and Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Treaty of Amsterdam and sport (29 November 1999) Although the social significance of sport was recognised, it was effectively effectively left outside the scope of the Treaty. Declaration No 29 annexed to the Final Act of the Amsterdam Treaty does not allow the Community to take any action in the field of sport. In the light of the social dimension of sport ü both professional and amateur ü particularly in forging identity, bringing people together and promoting the Olympic ideals, and of its economic dimension in the creation of new jobs. Will the Commission say: 1. whether it considers that the Community should take action to encourage cooperation between Member States or cooperation with third countries, and to complement the Member Statesí measures, as is the case with cultural affairs, for example? Is it aware of any practical results that have come out of the above declaration to date? 2. If so, will it take the opportunity of the forthcoming Intergovernmental Conference to propose that sport be incorporated into the new Treaty with the introduction of a relevant chapter? 3. Does it have the necessary structure available to implement a possible Community sports policy?