WRITTEN QUESTION E-1733/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Cost of missions to Strasbourg.
C 203 E/34 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 However, the Court of justice has held that Member States must nevertheless comply with Community law when exercising that power (3). As the German provision seems to constitute an obstacle to the freedom of movement of people, specifically of students, the Commission will therefore examine the question in more detail. The Commission is also aware of the situation of students who have taken out private insurance to fulfil the conditions regarding sickness insurance so as to obtain a residence permit and who are hence not covered by the above Regulation. A draft recommendation requesting Member States to make efforts to eliminate obstacles in this particular area is under preparation. (1) OJ L 38, 12. 2. 1999. (2) OJ L 28, 30. 1. 1997. (3) See case C-18/95 Terhoeve v Inspecteur van de Belastingdienst Particulieren/Ondernemingen Buitenland [1999] ECR I-345, paragraph 34. (2000/C 203 E/041) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1730/99 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (29 September 1999) Subject: Export of cattle to third countries How many live cattle were exported from the EU to third countries in 1998, and how much was paid out in export refunds for live cattle exports to third countries in the period 16 October 1997 to 15 October 1998? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (25 October 1999) In 1998 the Community exported 266 256 live cattle to third countries. For the budget year 1998, 16 October 1997 to 15 October 1998, € 93,5 million was granted in export subsidies for live cattle. (2000/C 203 E/042) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1733/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 September 1999) Subject: Cost of missions to Strasbourg About once a month, the institutional and administrative entity known as the European Parliament, plus significant contingents from the Council, the Commission and the other bodies comprising the European Union, transfers en masse for four to five days from Brussels to Strasbourg or, to put it another way, transfers for around 15 days from Strasbourg to Brussels. What are the figures and costs involved in this operation? How many people, apart from the 626 MEPs and their 1 000 or so assistants, commute between the two cities? Exactly how many people are on mission? What is the cost of the missions by employees of the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission and other internal and related bodies? What is the overall expenditure on missions and the transfer operation as a whole (including means of transport, external firms etc. )? 18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/35 Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1999) In 1998, Commission officials undertook 2 581 missions to Strasbourg costing a total of € 1 242 602. Thus the average cost per mission amounted to € 481,44. From January until May 1999 Commission officials undertook 1 122 missions to Strasbourg. Total costs were € 598 310, i. e. € 533,25 per mission. The Commission has no information on missions by staff of the Council and the Parliament, enquiries will have to be addressed to each Institution. The above figures relate to necessary transport and accommodation costs. Figures for what the Honourable Member describes as the áoverall transfer operationí including, for instance, a calculation of time used could not be obtained without the disproportionate use of public funds. (2000/C 203 E/043) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1738/99 by Umberto Bossi (TDI) to the Commission (1 October 1999) Subject: Lack of controls by Italy at border crossings with the Republic of Slovenia The lack of controls by Italy at its borders with the Republic of Slovenia is alarming. Apart from a number of international border crossings which are manned at all times and where identity documents are required, other border crossings are left unmanned from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m. , while rural crossing points are only manned in the mornings. In the province of Gorizia, checks are operated at only five out of 22 crossings. Is the Commission aware of this failure by Italy to carry out controls at the external frontiers of the 1. Union? 2. Does it consider that as a result Italy is in breach of the Schengen agreements? Could this lack of controls not make it easier for non-Community nationals to enter the Unionís 3. territory? Does the Commission feel it should intervene to compel Italy to carry out controls at its external 4. frontiers? Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1999) The ten Member States party to the Schengen agreement are required to apply in particular the provisions on surveillance and monitoring of external borders set out in Articles 3 et seq. of the Convention applying the Schengen agreement, and the decisions adopted by the Executive Committee which have been incorporated into the Union framework. The arrangements involve the following in particular: external borders may in principle be crossed only at border crossing points during the fixed opening hours; the border crossing points and opening hours are fixed in principle by the Member State concerned; specific arrangements may be laid down for minor border traffic; checks of external border posts are made in accordance with uniform principles; the Member States have undertaken to exercise surveillance on external borders between crossing points and of border crossing points outside normal opening hours; they have undertaken to deploy enough officers