WRITTEN QUESTION E-1816/99 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Bringing forward the approved increases in Spain's milk quota to the milk year 1999/2000.
C 203 E/56 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 Answer (24 January 2000) In view of the recent incidents to which the Honourable Member refers, Heads of Missions of EU Member States in Rabat have been asked to closely monitor the situation on the ground. In a recent address to the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, the Council declared that the EU fully supported the UN Settlement Plan for the holding of a free, fair and impartial referendum It noted with satisfaction the concerning the self-determination of resumption of the voter identification process and the implementation of the appeals procedure. It welcomed the UN Secretary-Generalís assessment that, despite delays, the implementation of the appeals procedure and the resumption of the voter identification process could be seen as signalling the intention of both parties to continue working towards the holding of the referendum. the people of Western Sahara. The Council gives its full support to the efforts made by the UN Secretary-General, by his Special Representative for Western Sahara, Ambassador Eagleton, by the Deputy Special Representative, Mr Robert Kinloch, and by the chairman of the Identification Commission, Mr Eduardo Vetere. The Council has called upon both parties to fully cooperate throughout the voter identification and the appeals process in preparation for a free, fair and impartial referendum to give effect to the self- determination of the people of Western Sahara. (2000/C 203 E/067) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1816/99 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission (12 October 1999) Subject: Bringing forward the approved increases in Spainís milk quota to the milk year 1999/2000 The recently adopted reform of the CMO in milk and milk products concerns, among other matters, specific quota increases for some Member Sstates, and in the case of Spain, a total increase of 550 000 tonnes to be divided into 350 000 tonnes for the milk year 2000/2001 and 200 000 tonnes for the milk year 2001/2002. The milk year 1998/1999 resulted in a surplus of some 40 000 tonnes and the current trend indicates a strong rise in comparison to the previous year, due in part to the expectations created by the new apportioning of quotas mentioned above. 1. Does the Commission not believe that, in order to offset the effects of this surplus, it would be feasible and desirable to bring forward all the quota increases already approved for Spain to the current milk year 1999/2000? Can the Commission report on the steps which would be required in order to be able to bring 2. forward the new apportioning of quotas? 3. In the event that, albeit desirable, it were not possible to bring forward the increases as suggested, would it at least be feasible for the latter to take place, at one fell swoop, in the first of the scheduled years, namely in the milk year 2000/2001? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (10 November 1999) The decision in principle to increase milk quotas, from which Spain will also benefit, was taken at the Berlin European Council in March of this year and was finalised in June. The instrument concerned ü which also specifies the dates on which the new quotas become applicable ü is Council Regulation (EC) No 1256/1999 of 17 May 1999 amending Regulation (EEC) No 3950/92 establishing an additional levy in the milk and milk products sector (1). 18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/57 The increased quotas ü and the dates on which they become applicable ü are part of a set of measures that has been carefully put together, in particular with regard to the budgetary aspects. Changing one of the components could well put the entire package at risk, without any guarantee either that the necessary budgetary resources would be available. 1. Any amendment to Regulation (EC) No 1256/1999, in particular to the dates on which the new quotas will become available, would be a matter for the Council. Accordingly and in view of the fact that the Regulation was published only recently, the Commission has no plans to put forward proposals along the lines suggested by the Honourable Member. 2. 3. In the light of the above the answer is clearly no. No. (1) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 203 E/068) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1817/99 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (12 October 1999) Subject: Entry into force of European scientific diving standard The European Scientific Diving Committee (ESDC) was established in May 1998 after preparatory work by Marco Weydert (DG XII D/3) and the working party of the seminar which met on the Italian island of Elba from 1 to 11 May 1997. This seminar was funded by Commission grant MAS3-CT96-6351. The objective of the ESDC is to create a training standard for European scientific diving and thus to promote the movement of diving experts from one country to another throughout the European Union and third countries. What is the present situation and timetable as regards ratification of the European scientific diving standard and the statutes of the ESDC? Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission (12 November 1999) A couple of workshops and a seminar supported by the Commission in 1995-1997 have permitted to develop a draft áagreedí European standard for the training of scientific divers using scuba (self contained underwater breathing apparatus i. e. air tanks). Two degrees, called European Scientific Diver (ESD) and Advanced European Scientific Diver (AESD) have been considered in the standard. The lower degree (ESD) is for scientific divers who are still undergoing further training. According to the draft agreed standard, and after the Commission involvement, a provisional European Scientific Diving Supervisory Committee (ESDSC) has been created and placed under the management of EMaPS (European Maríne and Polar Secretariat, now the Maríne Board) at the European Science Foundation in Strasbourg. At this moment, ESDSC is still an informal committee which has still to establish its own rules. In addition corresponding national committees have been created or are in the process of being created in several Member States. ESDSC is expected to establish and to maintain a list of certificates which fulfil the terms of the draft agreed standard. ESDSC is also liaising with the national authorities to promote recognition of the training of scientific divers under the scheme of Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (1). If the conditions of Council Directive 92/51/EEC can be fulfilled, Member States will be required to recognise the qualifications given by the higher of the two degrees (AESD). (1) OJ L 209, 24. 7. 1992