WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Involvement of the Spanish Autonomous Communities in Union institutions.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/177 It should be noted that under the terms of the Commissionís decision approving the aid, the combined total shipbuilding capacity of all the yards involved was limited to 210 000 compensated gross registered tonnes (cgrt) for a period of 10 years. The Astano yard formerly had a shipbuilding capacity of 135 000 cgrt. Against that background it is very difficult to see under what circumstances the restrictions on Astanoís activities could be relaxed. (1) OJ C 27 E, 29. 1. 2000, p. 66. (2) OJ C 170 E, 20. 6. 2000, p. 141. (2000/C 280 E/202) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0097/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (26 January 2000) Subject: Involvement of the Spanish Autonomous Communities in Union institutions In answer to my general question on the above subject tabled on 12 October 1999 (E-1823/99) (1), the Commission indicated on 25 November 1999 that, under Article 203 (former Article 146) of the EC Treaty, Member States were permitted to choose their representatives in the Council according to their specific circumstances. The Spanish Government has recently refused to allow the Autonomous Communities to play a direct role in the EU institutions by representing their people in matters falling under their responsibility, although the Congress of Deputies gave its endorsement for them to do so as long as two years ago. In view of the plain fact that the Autonomous Communities are thus being prevented from exercising their constitutional powers ü even when, like Galicia, they are recognised to constitute nations in their own right ü will the Commission undertake to secure and guarantee their involvement in the reform of the Treaties to be tackled by the Intergovernmental Conference in the year 2000, bearing in mind, moreover, that a privilege along these lines has already been granted to countries such as Austria, Belgium, and Germany? (1) OJ C 203 E, 18. 7. 2000, p. 58. Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) The Commission would point out that Article 203 (formerly Article 146) of the EC Treaty states that the Council must consist of a representative of each Member State at ministerial level, authorised to commit the government of that Member State. The Community institutions have no role to play in the choice of this representative, who is selected by the individual Member States in accordance with their constitutional law. The Commission sees no reason to propose an amendment to this provision. (2000/C 280 E/203) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0101/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Council (19 January 2000) Subject: EU asylum policy In reply to my oral question H-0722/99, the Council explains that there are no common definitions in the EU of what constitutes a ísafe country of originí and a ámanifestly unfoundedí request for asylum