WRITTEN QUESTION E-0171/00 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Night charges imposed by pharmacies.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/193 (2000/C 280 E/224) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0170/00 by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Community rules on weekly rest days on religious grounds (31 January 2000) The growing numbers of immigrants from the Maghreb region working in agriculture and other sectors in the various EU countries has meant that the relevant collective labour agreements covering workers from these countries have had to include provisions concerning the weekly rest days they may take on religious grounds. Thanks to the pressure brought to bear by the unions negotiating the various collective agreements covering workers from the Maghreb countries, the rest days generally given are Fridays and Saturdays, allowing them to keep these days sacred. As immigration from these countries into the European Union as a whole is on the increase, will the Commission say whether there are any Community provisions on this matter that would make it possible to extend the regulation of weekly rest days on religious grounds and introduce the necessary coordination with the practice usually followed in the Member States of the EU of keeping Sunday as a day of rest? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (15 March 2000) Article 5(1) of Council Directive 93/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time (1) lays down an uninterrupted weekly rest period of 35 hours. Following the annulment of Article 5(2) of the Directive by the Court of justice in case C-84/94 United Kingdom v. Council (2), Member States are free to decide whether the weekly rest is to be provided during a given day or days of the week. On 25 November 1999, the Commission adopted a package of two legislative proposals and a proposal for a programme to combat discrimination in the Community based on Article 13 (ex Article 6a) of the EC Treaty (3). One of these initiatives is a proposal for a horizontal directive to combat discrimination, inter alia, on grounds of religion. Article 12 of this proposal requires Member States to encourage social partners to contribute to the implementation of treatment by adopting collective agreements, codes of conduct, research or exchange of experiences and good practices aimed at preventing discrimination. the principle of equality of (1) OJ L 307, 13. 12. 1993. (2) (3) COM(99) 564, 565, 566 and 567 final. European Court Reports 1996 page I-5755. (2000/C 280 E/225) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0171/00 by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Night charges imposed by pharmacies (31 January 2000) In some Community countries customers of pharmacies have been required to pay a special charge when purchasing medicines at pharmacies on duty at night. Clearly, this entails serious discrimination against those who, in a medical emergency and for reasons beyond their control, need to purchase the medicines they require immediately. C 280 E/194 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 Does the Commission not agree that it has a duty to ensure that there is no discrimination against customers of pharmacies, whether they purchase medicines by day or by night? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (1 March 2000) The Commission does not feel that the situation to which the Honourable Member refers raises a problem of Community law. The national measures establishing the tax in question do not, in fact, appear to be either directly or indirectly discriminatory on grounds of nationality. This tax applies to the objective situation of citizens purchasing medicines at duty pharmacies at night, irrespective of any other subjective considerations relating to the purchaser. In addition, the Commission notes that these measures do not affect the freedom of movement of pharmaceutical products, the freedom of establishment or the freedom to provide services. (2000/C 280 E/226) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0172/00 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission (31 January 2000) Subject: Vital institutional importance of the year 1999 in the history of the European Community From the institutional point of view, last year was the most breathtaking and decisive year in the history of the European Community since it was established in 1957. Both as regards the serious institutional crisis it underwent, which forced the Commission to resign, and its new role as a leading player in international politics, the European Union experienced a major upheaval which should be studied by thinkers and researchers in the field of political science to draw conclusions and anticipate future developments that will need to be taken into account, especially in the institutional sphere. In the light of the above, will the Commission encourage studies and debates between experts and academics in the field of Community institutional studies, so that conclusions can be drawn from an interpretation of the institutional crisis which the Community underwent last year? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (20 March 2000) The European Commission promotes studies and encourages discussions between experts and researchers interested in the Unionís political and institutional development. For example, in the context of the Jean Monnet project it supports teaching and research into Union affairs, including questions concerning its political-institutional system. In the run-up to the 2000 Intergovernmental Conference on institutional reform, the Commission has asked the European University Institute in Florence to look into the possibilities and procedures for this study will be presented to the Heads of State and reorganising the Treaties. The findings of Government at the European Council in June. In the context of the European Community Studies Association network the Commission supports and organises exchanges of and discussions by research specialists on Union matters and European policies. The Commission is also engaged in a major project on governance in the Union for which it plans to co- opt the assistance of outside partners. It also encourages discussion and studies in research institutes and public and private think-tanks