WRITTEN QUESTION P-2279/99 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Penalties imposed on Spain for its failure to transpose Community directives on the environment.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/137 (2000/C 219 E/172) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2274/99 by JosØ Salafranca SÆnchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Jean Monnet European Professorship (13 December 1999) Is the Commission aware of the decision taken on 30 September 1999 by the AlcalÆ de Henares University in Madrid against maintaining the Jean Monnet European Professorship in European Culture? What is the Commissionís assessment of the work achieved by this Professorship with regard to the objectives sought by the Jean Monnet European Professorship programme, and what is the Commissionís overall judgement of the work undertaken by its holder? What are the precedents existing in European Member State universities concerning the extension of the initial seven year period for these professorships? What opinion does the Commission hold on the above-mentioned decision? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) The Commission is aware of the decision by the Complutense University of Madrid not to maintain the Jean Monnet Chair in European Culture following the seven-year contractual period. It expressed its regret to the Rector of the University given that it is an experimental professorship in an area little explored by academics and that it considers the subject area to be of particular interest in terms of the Unionís cultural foundations. The annual activity reports submitted by the Jean Monnet professor of European Culture showed the special contribution made by this Jean Monnet Chair. More than 95 % of universities have maintained their Jean Monnet Chairs following the initial seven-year period (1990 chairs: 44 out of 46; 1991 chairs: 43 out of 44). Where the chairs were not extended, in two cases the courses were maintained but split among several professors rather than one, and in the other case the chair was not maintained because the University Council did not accept the replacement proposed by the university, as the person in question was not a professor. The Commission does not intervene in universitiesí internal decisions as it fully respects their authority and autonomy in academic issues. For information purposes, a copy of the letter from the Commission to the Rector of the Complutense University will be sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat. (2000/C 219 E/173) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2279/99 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Penalties imposed on Spain for its failure to transpose Community directives on the environment The Spanish Environment Ministry has not taken the necessary steps to ensure the transposition, within the specified time limits, of three important directives relating to the environment: monitoring of industrial emissions (which should have come into force on 31 October), a law on environmental impact assessment (which should have been transposed by March at the latest) and access to environmental information (a matter in respect of which the Commission served notice on Spain in July 1996 for restricting the right to such information). Has the Commission opened a disciplinary procedure against Spain to punish the latter for its failure to transpose the three directives in question? C 219 E/138 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 What has the Spanish authoritiesí response been to the various letters of notice served on them by the Commission? Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (20 December 1999) As a matter of course the Commission brings an action where Member States fail to provide information of the steps taken to transpose directives within the deadlines set for these. Since Spain has still not informed the Commission of any action to transpose Council Directive 96/61/EC of 24 September1996 concerning integration pollution prevention (1) and control, the Commission will shortly introduce an infringement procedure in accordance with Article 226 (former Article 169) of the EC Treaty. The Commission has already introduced infringement proceedings against Spain under Article 226 of the EC Treaty in connection with Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997, amending Directive 85/337/ EEC on the assessment of the impact of certain public and private projects on the environment (2). The Spanish state was served notice of this matter in August 1999, but has so far not replied. In view of the above the Commission is shortly due to decide on notifying Spain of the reasoned opinion that is the second stage of the infringement procedure. Since it did not consider the reply given by the Spanish authorities to the reasoned opinion concerning the incorrect transposition of Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on the environment (3) to be satisfactory, the Commission has lodged a formal request with the Court of Justice. The case bears reference No C-189/99. (1) OJ L 257, 10. 10. 1996. (2) OJ L 73, 14. 3. 1997. (3) OJ L 158, 23. 6. 1990. (2000/C 219 E/174) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2282/99 by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Commitology Will the Commission provide a complete list of all the committees, groups of experts, etc. whose travel expenses are reimbursed by the EU? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (21 January 2000) The Commission reimburses the travel expenses for all meetings of committees and groups of experts which it convenes. It is transmitting the list of committees and groups of experts who attend such meetings and are thus reimbursed to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat for the current year. In June 1999 the Commission transmitted to the Honourable Member a computer print-out of all committee meetings in 1997. It will send him the equivalent figures for groups of experts for the same year