WRITTEN QUESTION P-1812/99 by Carlos Carnero González (PSE) to the Council. Repressive action taken by the Moroccan authorities in the Western Sahara.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/55 2. in what way it will intercede with the Greek authorities to persuade them not to grant further licences for the operation of such businesses and to review existing licences with a view to designating the area as residential only, and 3. what its views are of the possibility of support, through the Third CSF, for initiatives to improve the area further, including restoring its houses in their original style? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1999) The Community part-financed a project aiming to protect and restore the old listed districts of Kyriotissa and Barbouta in Veria (Northern Greece), under the Environmentí operational programme (OP) of the Community support framework (CSF) for Greece for the current programming period (1994-1999). The project, which has now been finished, consisted of restoring the declining urban environment, mainly by resurfacing roads using cobblestones and slate, planting trees, improving small squares, lighting streets and similar measures. The total cost was about € 1,2 million. In most cases, methods of implementation are the subject of an agreement between local and 1. national authorities, the Environment. The Commission does not intervene in decisions on content, provided Community and national law are respected. There is no direct causal link between this agreement and inclusion of the project in the OP. represented in this case by the Department of the latter 2. The granting of licences for commercial establishments is a matter solely for the national authorities. As the draft CSF for Greece for the next programming period (2000-2006) has only just reached the 3. Commission, it is too soon to say which projects it will comprise. (2000/C 203 E/066) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1812/99 by Carlos Carnero GonzÆlez (PSE) to the Council (11 October 1999) Subject: Repressive action taken by the Moroccan authorities in the Western Sahara The Polisario Front and various other bodies have drawn the attention of the UN Secretary-General and international public opinion to violent acts of repression perpetrated in September by the Moroccan authorities in the town of El Aaiœn (Western Sahara) during a peaceful demonstration organised by the workers of the Fos Bucraa company, out-of-work graduates and students against the occupation of the territory and in support of specific demands. As a result of those acts of violence, one person died, forty were injured and dozens disappeared. Would the Council not agree that, in view of the undertakings that Morocco has given to the international community, such action is not in accordance with the behaviour expected of that country during the preparations for the referendum on self-determination? Does it intend to protest to the Moroccan Government and demand that those responsible be identified and that there be no repetition of such behaviour in the future? Does it intend to call on the Moroccan authorities to ensure full respect for the right of free expression and the right to demonstrate of the citizens of the Western Sahara? 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)