WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3326/98 by Philippe MONFILS to the Commission. Irregularities in the authorisation to build an incinerator at Drogenboos (Belgium)
21. 7. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 207/51 The joint action of 24 February 1997 (2) requires the Member States to criminalise and to punish the sexual exploitation of children, including the inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity, the exploitative use of a child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual activities, including pornographic performances and materials. Furthermore, Europol within its mandate on trafficking in human beings is also active in the fight against such sexual exploitation in co-operation with law enforcement agencies in the Member States. The Commission also runs the STOP programme which supports public authorities in the fight against trafficking in children and their sexual exploitation, and the Daphne programme which supports non- governmental organisations (NGOs) in the fight against all forms of violence towards children, including sexual exploitation. (1) OJ L 216, 20. 8. 1994. (2) OJ L 63, 4. 3. 1997. (1999/C 207/067) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3326/98 by Philippe Monfils (ELDR) to the Commission (10 November 1998) Subject: Irregularities in the authorisation to build an incinerator at Drogenboos (Belgium) In March I asked the Commission (Question H-0329/98 (1)) whether there should not be an enquiry into compliance with European rules by the Flemish Brabant Permanent Committee in its procedure granting an environmental permit for the construction of a waste incinerator at Drogenboos and, if appropriate, to bring infringement proceedings against the Belgian State (Flemish Region) if the authorities refused to comply with European law. The Commission answered that a complaint on the same subject had been lodged and that, if examination of the case confirmed the existence of a breach of Community environmental law, it would be in a position to decide whether it would be appropriate to initiate the infringement procedure laid down in Article 169 of the EC Treaty. More than six months have passed. Will the Commission state whether its investigations have confirmed an infringement law and, if so, whether a decision to initiate the infringement procedure has been taken, and the grounds for such decision? (1) Report of Proceedings of the European Parliament(March 1998). Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (6 January 1999) The Commission is currently in the process of investigating a number of complaints concerning the incinerator referred to by the Honourable Member. Following a request by the Commission for information, the Belgian authorities have submitted observations which are currently being examined. Should the response by the Belgian authorities be deemed unsatisfactory, the Commission will not hesitate to pursue the matter under the procedure provided for in Article 169 of the EC Treaty