WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1503/98 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA to the Commission. The information society and social and economic cohesion
5. 2. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 31/45 horsemeat is not usually consumed since these horses are often exported to other countries where they are slaughtered for human consumption. Separation of sporting or recreational animals from meat-producing animals is not easily achieved. Any system of control would need to be both straightforward and reliable. However, simply relying on documentation (especially if such documentation just takes the form of a declaration by the horseís owner) will not fulfil these requirements. Indelibly marking with microchips, branding and tattooing have all been suggested and discussions are still under way as to whether such marking systems are likely to be feasible and effective. It is clear that any solution will have to be valid for the whole Community and not for specific Member States. The Commission is also considering various options to facilitate the authorisation of veterinary medicinal products in certain circumstances. Any solutions will also have to consider products, which were on the market before Council Regulation (EEC) 2377/90 came into force. Before maximum residue limits were introduced to enforce consumer protection, a system of áwithdrawal periodsí was used. This was abandoned as general strategy because it was difficult to control and to enforce. The Commission is seeking a solution to the problems, which takes the principles of consumer protection into account. (1) OJ L 121, 29. 7. 1964. (2) OJ L 317, 6. 11. 1981. (3) OJ L 224, 18. 8. 1990. (1999/C 31/058) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1499/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission Subject: The information society and social and economic cohesion (13 May 1998) When she appeared before Parliamentís Committee on Regional Policy on 23 January 1997 in connection with the presentation of the Commission Communication on cohesion and the information society (COM(97) 7 final of 22 January 1997), Mrs Mathies, Commissioner, said that the information society should form an integral part of Community structural policy. On this subject the Committee on Regional Policy, by means of report A4-0399/97, has expressed its concern at the fact that only 2 % of expenditure under the Structural Funds goes to investment in the telecommunication sector. It puts forward the view that expenditure on the information society should be included in the ámainstreamingí of the Structural Funds and it calls on the Commission to secure close cooperation and coordination between the different programmes and activities in the area of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Could the Commission say how it has incorporated these requests into its final proposals on the reform of the Structural Funds for the new 2000-2006 period (proposals which were adopted by the College of Commissioners on 18 March 1997), with particular reference to the configuration of Objectives 1 and 2, the establishment of the selection criteria and funding under those objectives? (1999/C 31/059) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1503/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission Subject: The information society and social and economic cohesion (13 May 1998) In its Communication on cohesion and the information society (COM(97) 7 final of 22 January 1997) the Commission states that áthe information society also offers a great potential for the development of new forms of employment and high-skilled jobs, especially by providing SMEs, as the main dynamic source of employment creation, growth and competitiveness, with the instruments to innovate and adapt to a rapidly changing economic environmentí (page 4). According to the Communication the access of SMEs to such potential should be facilitated, since SMEs represent the backbone of regional economic structures, especially in least-favoured regions (page 4). This should make it possible to prevent the establishment of a technocratic elite which would