WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3264/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS Certification of quality for products bearing the EC mark
C 289/30 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 10. 1999 Since, from a medical point of view, citrus fruits, horticultural produce and olive oil are necessary for a balanced diet, and since Russia is one of the most important markets for Greek agricultural products, especially for citrus fruits (for example, 35 % of orange exports go to Russia) and the closure of this market is already having repercussions, will the Commission say whether it intends to take measures to ensure that Mediterranean products such as citrus fruits, horticultural produce and olive oil are included on terms of equality in food aid to Russia? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (11 November 1998) The Commission has not received any official Russian request, either for food aid, or for humanitarian aid. Consequently the Community has not taken any decisions regarding this issue. However, the Commission is monitoring the Russian food situation closely. If such an aid request were to be received, the Commission would examine it in detail. It is premature to discuss which products to include in a potential aid operation. Any information or view with regard to the range of products to be delivered in the case of a food aid programme to Russia is equally premature and will, in addition, depend on the contents of any Russian request. (1999/C 289/040) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3258/98 by Francisco Sanz Fernández (PSE) to the Commission (28 October 1998) Subject: Cohesion policy and culture Following the publication of its communication on ‘Cohesion policy and culture: a contribution to employ- ment’, would the Commission state exactly how it intends to take culture into account in the new programming period (guidelines, etc)? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (23 November 1998) The Commission outlined in its communication ‘Cohesion policy and culture 6 a contribution to employ- ment’ (1) options for future assistance to culture from the structural funds. Moreover, the proposed Commission guidelines for the next programming period (2000-2006) will make reference to culture as an integral part of local and regional development. (1) COM(96) 512 final. (1999/C 289/041) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3264/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Certification of quality for products bearing the EC mark (30 October 1998) Given the doubts raised in the press about the reliability of the EC (Conformité Européene) mark for toys, will the Commission say: (a) Are a sufficient number of quality controls being carried out on toys bearing the EC mark, to ensure that they comply with the provisions of Directive 88/378/EEC (1)? (b) What percentage of toys in circulation bearing the EC mark fails to meet the preestablished specifications, both in Greece and in the other Member States?