WRITTEN QUESTION E-2131/99 by Manuel Pérez Álvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European public register of supranational organisations.
C 203 E/140 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 (2000/C 203 E/177) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2130/99 by Robert Sturdy (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Council Directives 86/469 and 96/23 on the monitoring of certain substances and residues thereof in live animals and animal products Council Directive 86/469 (1), amended by Council Directive 96/23 (2), requires that all Member States submit an annual report on large scale, random sampling for certain substance and residues thereof in live animals and animal products. Has the Commission received these annual reports from all Member States? If not, what steps is the Commission taking to enforce this Directive? Does the Commission have plans to make these results available to the European Parliament and therefore the public? If so, when? If not, why has the Commission taken this decision? (1) OJ L 275, 26. 9. 1986, p. 36. (2) OJ L 125, 23. 5. 1996, p. 10. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1999) With regard to the annual reports on large scale, random sampling for certain substance and residues thereof in live animals and animal products required by Council Directive 86/469 as amended by Council Directive 96/23 (1), the Commission has received the summary results from all Member States, and the detailed reports from all Member States except France. Since April, France has been officially requested by the Commission in the standing veterinary committee to send detailed reports as soon as possible. The Commission together with Member Statesí experts started to analyse the reports on 6/7 December 1999 in order to provide a comprehensive report which will be available to the Parliament and therefore the public next year. (1) OJ L 125, 23. 5. 1996. (2000/C 203 E/178) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2131/99 by Manuel PØrez `lvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: European public register of supranational organisations (24 November 1999) There is no public register for non-profit-making supranational organisations in the European Union. Does the Commission have any plans to introduce one? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1999) The Commission wishes to remain very accessible to non-profit making supranational organisations. It does not, therefore, impose any system of accreditation and ensures equal treatment for all of them. In line with this approach, a list of non-profit making interest groups operating at Community level, together 18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/141 with their national members, has been placed on the Europa server. (1) This database, inclusion in which is entirely voluntary, currently contains about 900 groups representing every sector of economic and social life. It is a valuable information tool for officials wishing to consult a broad spectrum of public opinion. The Commission plans to develop this database further, expanding the content and extending the scope, possibly to make it an interinstitutional tool. (1) http://europa. eu. int/comm/sg/sgc/lobbies/index_en. htm. (2000/C 203 E/179) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2134/99 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Council (29 November 1999) Subject: Abolition of tax-free shopping and the impact on jobs On 1 July 1999 sales of duty-free goods in átax-free shopsí finally came to an end. These shops sold certain products (e. g. perfume, cigarettes and alcohol) tax-free to passengers on international flights. The ban followed a decision by the European Summit in Cologne on 3 and 4 June 1999 to apply Article 12 of the Sixth Council directive on VAT No 77/388/EEC (1) of 17 May 1977 in full. The article in question permitted intra-Community sales free of tax until 30 June 1999. For a variety of reasons there was considerable opposition to the abolition of tax-free shopping in the European Union, e. g. because of the negative effect on jobs. The Commission and the Council have always argued that the ban on tax-free shopping would not lead to a loss of jobs. However, the evidence emerging from the industry is different. For example, sales at Sky Shops in Zaventem have fallen by a quarter since 30 June 1999. Management have been obliged to make 60 full-time employees redundant. How many persons were employed full-time in tax-free shops in the European Union on 1 January 1. 1999? How many persons were employed full-time in tax-free shops in the European Union on 1 June 2. 1999? How many persons were employed full-time in tax-free shops in the European Union on 1 July 3. 1999? How many persons were employed full-time in tax-free shops in the European Union on 1 October 4. 1999? On the basis of the answers to questions 1 to 4, does the Council acknowledge that the number of 5. full-time jobs in tax-free shops in the European Union has fallen? Does the Council feel that these job losses are due to the abolition of tax-free shopping in the 6. European Union? If so, is the Council prepared to review the ban on tax-free shopping? If not, to what does the Council attribute the loss of jobs in the tax-free shops sector? (1) OJ L 145, 13. 6. 1977, p. 1. Answer (24 January 2000) According to the Councilís basic decision from 1992, tax-free sales for intra-community travellers did not fit in with the concept of an internal market without fiscal frontiers. Nevertheless, the Council decided in 1992 to maintain the situation of duty-free shops on a temporary basis until the end of June 1999