WRITTEN QUESTION E-0346/00 by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Competence in connection with the economic agreement drawn up by the Spanish government's representatives in the Basque Country.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/57 contribution. This is the framework within which the Community can contribute to combating the social exclusion of all vulnerable individuals and groups, including travelling people, and the Commission has outlined possible proposals in this area in its communication Building an inclusive Europeí (1). In addition, the recent proposals on combating discrimination adopted by the Commission on 25 Novem- ber 1999 will forbid discrimination on grounds of racial or ethnic origin in employment, education, social protection and social security, social advantages and access to goods and services (2). In combating both direct and indirect discrimination in these fields, the Community will contribute to eliminating some of the barriers to inclusion faced by the Roma and other travelling people. The Commission has called on the Council and the Parliament to make rapid progress on this package of proposals. (1) COM(2000) 79 final. (2) COM(1999) 564, 565, 566 and 567 final. (2000/C 374 E/066) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0346/00 by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Competence in connection with the economic agreement drawn up by the Spanish governmentís representatives in the Basque Country On 18 January the Spanish Government reached an agreement with the authorities of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country on the economic and tax agreement drawn up by the central government representatives in that region. Furthermore, this agreement has the approval of the bordering autonomous communities. Will the Commission continue with infringement proceedings against the central governmentís representa- tives despite the fact that the supposedly adversely affected autonomous communities have approved the agreement? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (13 April 2000) The Commission opened proceedings under Article 88(2) (former Article 93) of the EC Treaty against tax measures in the form of átax holidaysí and tax relief introduced by the Basque provinces, not on account of complaints brought by the neighbouring autonomous communities but of doubts regarding their compat- ibility with the common market in the light of Article 87 (former Article 92) of the EC Treaty. The fact that the neighbouring communities have approved the agreement does not affect the proceedings initiated in the interests of competitors of the firms in receipt of aid. (2000/C 374 E/067) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0355/00 by Ward Beysen (ELDR) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Copyright directive The Commissionís proposal on revising the directive on copyright and associated rights is currently before the Council. The proposal affords enormous advantages in that it strikes a balance between copyright holders, on the one hand, and users and the technology sector, on the other; however, there may be an inherent risk of giving a complete technical monopoly to copyright holders. What action is the Commission intending to take to avoid requirements being imposed in respect of technical systems in exceptional cases, i. e. instances where copying is, in fact, permitted?