WRITTEN QUESTION P-0675/00 by José Pomés Ruiz (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The length of time ECHO has had no Director.
C 330 E/202 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (19 April 2000) The Commission does not fully agree with the views expressed by the Honourable Member for the following reasons. Council Directive 90/394/EEC of 28 June 1990 on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work, being an individual directive pursuant to framework Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work, applies to all sectors of activity, whether public or private, with very specific exceptions in certain public service activities. The air and sea transport sectors are covered by Directive 90/394/EEC. Taking into consideration the adoption of Commission Directive 91/632/EEC of 28 October 1991 (1) adapting to technical progress for the fifteenth time Council Directive 67/548/EEC on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (2), all forms of asbestos have been classified as carcinogens at Community level and consequently are covered by the scope of Directive 90/394/EEC. The exclusion of certain categories of workers from the scope of Law 277/91 is in accordance with the provisions of Directives 80/1107/EEC, 82/605/EEC, 83/477/EEC, 86/188/EEC and 88/642/EEC. This does not mean, however, that workers in the air and sea transport sectors are deprived of protection from exposure to carcinogens. They are covered by the legislation which transposes Directive 90/394/EEC into Italian law. The Commission would like to point out to the Honourable Member that Directives 90/394/EEC and 89/391/EEC were transposed into Italian law by Legislative Decree No 626 of 19 September 1994 and that this decreeís scope does not exclude workers in the air and sea transport sectors. (1) OJ L 338, 10. 12. 1991. (2) OJ 196, 16. 8. 1967; OJ L 327, 3. 12. 1980; OJ L 247, 23. 8. 1982; OJ L 263, 24. 9. 1983; OJ L 137, 24. 5. 1986; OJ L 356, 24. 12. 1988. (2000/C 330 E/233) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0675/00 by JosØ PomØs Ruiz (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 February 2000) Subject: The length of time ECHO has had no Director It has been obvious that a new Director of ECHO would need to be appointed ever since it was announced that Mr Alberto Navarro was to join Mr Javier Solanaís private office. Why has the new Commissioner, Mr Nielson, taken so long to suggest an appointee, and why is it that the appointed candidate has not yet taken up his duties? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (21 March 2000) Mr Alberto Navarro, former Director of the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), was invited to take up his new duties as head of Mr Solanaís private office on 1 October 1999. In accordance with the relevant administrative procedures, Mr Sabato Della Monica was made acting director of ECHO with effect from 1 October 1999 until such time as a permanent appointment was made. 21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/203 The vacant post of Director of ECHO was published on 10 November 1999 by agreement with the private office of the Member responsible for development and humanitarian aid; the final date for applications was 24 November 1999. The Advisory Committee on Appointments (ACA) met on 16 December 1999 to draw up a shortlist of applicants. After in-depth talks, the ACA issued its opinion on 20 January 2000. The Commission decided to appoint Mrs Costanza Adinolfi to the post (PV(2000) 1466 of 15 February 2000). Mrs Adinolfi will take up her duties as Director of ECHO on 15 March 2000. (2000/C 330 E/234) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0676/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: Tourism measures There is frequent criticism from many sources of a lack of coordination of tourism policy within the EU; the reason generally given by the Commission is that the Treaties do not provide sufficient legal basis for such measures. Can the Commission say whether it intends in future to seek better coordination and harmonisation of the Member Statesí existing legislation on tourism? Can the Commission also say what specific measures to promote tourism it has adopted to date, in particular in the area of bed and breakfast, rooms in private houses, holiday accommodation and similar structures, and what action it intends to take in this area in the near future? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (5 April 2000) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its Communication of 28 April 1999 on in which a new approach is taken concerning the Enhancing tourismís potential for employmentí (1), Communityís tourism activities. This approach is based on knowledge of the tourism sector and market and of its growth and employment potential in promoting conditions which would allow this potential to be sustained in the long term. The method used for this purpose is based on cooperation with the Member States, consultation of the economic and social operators in the tourist industry and coordination of other Community measures and programmes which impact on tourism. The Commission is aware of the many and varied aspects of tourism and regards it as an essential task to consolidate the consistent integration of these aspects with other policies, for example regional policy, transport policy, policies relating to the environment, enterprise, competition, employment and research. The Commission believes that tourist activities at Community level must complement Member Statesí activities and respect the principle of subsidiarity. It does not therefore intend to harmonise the tourism legislation currently in force in the Member States unless this legislation calls the internal market into question. However, since 1996, measures taken by the Member States have been coordinated within the Advisory Committee on Tourism. It is not the responsibility of the Commission to take specific measures concerning particular types of tourism or accommodation. Existing programmes of assistance, for example the Structural Funds, allow the Member Statesí authorities, the regions and the tourism business to support the most appropriate tourist activities. (1) COM(1999) 205 final