WRITTEN QUESTION E-0284/00 by Hans-Peter Mayer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Principle of equality in the British nationality acquisition criteria.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/171 Because of their differences in methodology and purpose, the two publications do not, therefore, lend themselves to comparison; their results should be seen as complementing, not contradicting, each other. (2000/C 303 E/191) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0278/00 by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (PSE) to the Commission (7 February 2000) Subject: Situation regarding imports of game and wildfowl from Russia The EU has not yet authorised imports of game from Russia on the grounds that there have been occasional instances of foot-and-mouth disease and Newcastle disease in some parts of the country. However, those diseases are not present, and reportedly have never been present, in the northern regions which are of interest to Nordic importers of game among others. The procedure for providing veterinary documentation in Russia, however, is inadequate, which has led to delays in assessing various regions in that country. The process of assessing northern Russia has lasted several years and no findings are forthcoming. What information can the Commission provide about the current situation in this regard to enable Nordic importers of game, among others, to obtain clarification of the conditions applying to imports of game from northern Russia? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (28 March 2000) Commission Decision 97/217/EC of 28 February 1997, lays down groups of third countries, or parts thereof, which are authorised to use the veterinary certification for imports of wild game meat, farmed game meat and rabbit meat from third countries (1). A Community veterinary inspection mission has been carried out in the Russian region of Murmansk, to assess the animal and public health situation as regards the possible imports into the Community of wild cloven-hoofed game meat, excepting swine. The missionís findings were encouraging and the guarantees given by the national authorities satisfactory. This allowed the Commission to amend by Decision 2000/161/EC of 14 February 2000 (2) the above- from the Russian region of mentioned decision to authorise the imports of Murmansk. farmed reindeer meat As a consequence, and following the adoption of the list of Russian establishments from which Member States authorise the import of farmed game meat, as per Commission Decision 00/161/EC of 14 February 2000 amending Decision 97/217/EC2, Russia will be in a position to export farmed game meat to the Community from the approved establishments of the Murmansk region. (1) OJ L 88, 3. 4. 1997. (2) OJ L 51, 24. 2. 2000. (2000/C 303 E/192) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0284/00 by Hans-Peter Mayer (PPE-DE) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: Principle of equality in the British nationality acquisition criteria The British nationality acquisition criteria are such that children of a British mother and a foreign father cannot lay claim to British nationality if they were born before 1 January 1983, because up to that time only the fatherís nationality could be passed on to children. C 303 E/172 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Does this arrangement contravene the principle of equality implied in Community law? Could any steps be taken under Community law to change the provisions? Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (16 March 2000) Rules on acquiring or losing nationality are governed exclusively by the national law of each Member State. This was made quite clear in Declaration No 2 annexed to the Treaty on European Union, which states that áthe question whether an individual possesses the nationality of a Member State shall be settled solely by reference to the national law of the Member State concerned. í (2000/C 303 E/193) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0285/00 by Claude Desama (PSE) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: Proposed merger between Worldcom and Sprint The proposed merger between Sprint and MCI Worldcom constitutes a market threat to the European Internet backbone network. Together, the two companies would hold a dominant position in the USA, enabling them to charge increased fees to network operators and users. The new merged company would be able to take advantage of its control over critical intersections to make a profit from the provision of data transmission and data switching services worldwide on Internet. How does the Commission intend to respond to this anti-competitive arrangement? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (7 March 2000) The proposed merger between Spring and MCI WorldCom was notified to the Commission on 11 January 2000 so that it could be scrutinised for compatibility with the common market. As in 1998 when examining the merger between MCI and WorldCom, the Commission will carefully study the effects of combining the respective activities of Sprint and MCI WorldCom on the Internet market. If the Commission found that the proposed merger would create or reinforce a dominant position, the parties concerned would have to suggest appropriate ways of resolving the competition problems which this would pose. (2000/C 303 E/194) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0291/00 by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: Phare programme for Croatia In view of the positive outcome of the elections in Croatia on 3 January 2000, will the Commission reconsider the suspension of the Phare programme for Croatia?