WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2995/98 by Roberto MEZZAROMA to the Commission. Reform of the law on representation in the armed forces in Italy
C 96/156 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 4. 1999 (1999/C 96/224) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2995/98 by Roberto Mezzaroma (PPE) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Reform of the law on representation in the armed forces in Italy On 21 July 1998, the defence committee of the Italian Chamber of Deputies approved the text of a law aimed at reforming the system of representation in the armed forces. The substance of the law reveals the lack of a political will to undertake an innovative reform of the system of representation in the armed forces so as to improve the conditions of military personnel. The law has been met with complete indifference and has failed to prompt any critical reaction on the part of military personnel, indicating a serious and alarming lack of concern about the lawís content. For many years the fundamental rights of military personnel in the armed forces of European countries have been enjoyed wide-ranging and comprehensive protection under the law. In view of the fact that in 1985 and 1997 the European Parliament adopted a recommendation stating that military personnel should be allowed proper and effective representation, does the Commission not consider it necessary to make a specific recommendation, without encroaching on the autonomy of the Italian Parliament, that the new law, which is set to be approved by the Senate, should incorporate the constitutional right to the protection of the fundamental and inalienable rights of association and be brought into line with similar laws in other European countries as part of a unified defence policy in the WEU? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (6 November 1998) The right of association falls outside of the scope of Article 2 of the Agreement on social policy (Article 137 of the new Treaty). The issue of the right of association of the members of the armed forces falls exclusively within the competence of the Member States. (1999/C 96/225) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2998/98 by Renate Heinisch (PPE) to the Commission (8 October 1998) Subject: Information on the level of EU aid paid to universities and research institutes in Baden-Württemberg in 1997 For what measures was Community funding paid to universities and research institutes in Baden-Württemberg in 1997, and how high were the grants from 1. the Fourth Framework Programme for activities in the field of research and technological development and demonstration, 2. the Community programmes in the areas of energy and the environment, 3. Community initiatives, particularly the Interreg programme, 4. 5. the Socrates, Leonardo da Vinci and Youth for Europe programmes, other Community programmes? Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (23 October 1998) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible