WRITTEN QUESTION E-0974/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission. Relations between the European Union and Iran.
13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/99 Under the pretext of ensuring navigability and preventing the silting-up of some areas, dredging is taking place in an uncontrolled fashion; given that the sand is not simply being moved but marketed, there is a risk of very serious consequences for the environmental equilibrium of the lagoon and the coastal strip. A project is also under way for the construction of a marina for more than 800 in the estuary in Barra in the parish of lhavo. In view of the above, will the Commission say: 1. Has any Community funding been made available for dredging work in the Aveiro estuary? 2. Has any request for funding been made for the construction of the marina referred to above? 3. In either case, has any provision been made to protect the environmental equilibrium of the lagoon and the coastal strip? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (16 May 2000) The Community has indeed part-financed a dredging project in the Ria de Aveiro from the Cohesion Fund (1). The Ria de Aveiro comprises a lagoon separated from the sea by a barrier of dunes. If it is not dredged, there is a danger that the lagoon will disappear as it silts up rapidly. The solution requires dredging to be carried out to open up and deepen the channels in the Ria. This assistance forms part of a series of measures to preserve and protect the Ria de Aveiro. The Cohesion Fund is contributing € 59,2 million towards the total cost of € 69,71 million for a project to collect and treat waste water (Simria). The Commission has insisted that the project to dredge the Ria should be accompanied by a series of measures to minimise the impact of the works and to monitor them. The project approved by the Commission provides for the dredged sand to be used to regenerate the coastal area (combating coastal erosion), to restore the marsh areas, which are in a poor state of preservation, and to construct an artificial island for bird life. A schedule restricting dredging to the period from October to March has also been drawn up to keep the impact on fauna and flora to a minimum. The Portuguese authorities have submitted no application for finance to construct a marina. (1) Decisions C(95) 3061 of 12 December 1995 and C(95) 3259 of 15 December 1995 amended by Decision C(96) 3876 of 5 December 1997 and merged in Decision C(98) 2902 of 2 October 1998. (2001/C 46 E/103) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0974/00 by Ioannis Souladakis (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Relations between the European Union and Iran (31 March 2000) The election results in the recent parliamentary elections in Iran have demonstrated the strong desire of the Iranian electorate that Iran should emerge from the international isolation in which it has been for years. However, the European Unionís response to the changes taking place in Iran has so far been limited. Will the Commission say whether it intends to take advantage of current favourable circumstances to improve relations with Iran, thus supporting the opening which Iranian society is seeking with the West? C 46 E/100 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (27 April 2000) Following the positive outcome of the elections in Iran, the Commission is currently reviewing relations with Iran. While it is still too early to formulate specific suggestions for the development of relations with Iran, it is likely that, as a first step, these would consist primarily of a widening and deepening of the dialogue that takes place within the framework of the comprehensive dialogue since the end of 1998. Cooperation could also be enhanced in the areas of energy, refugee assistance and drugs control. In the light of the political development in Iran, and depending on a constructive Iranian engagement on international issues such as non-proliferation and the fight against terrorism, extension of cooperation to new areas, and ultimately an institutionalisation of relations, could be envisaged. (2001/C 46 E/104) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0991/00 by Klaus-Heiner Lehne (PPE-DE) to the Commission (31 March 2000) Subject: New issue procedures The handling of the Infineon new share issue (Infineon being a subsidiary of Siemens AG) in Germany this March has attracted considerable public criticism. Siemens executives benefited from gross favouritism when the shares were allocated, as did big investors. Furthermore, the bank álotteryí for private investors was not organised transparently, and there are suspicions that it was conducted arbitrarily. Will the Commission submit proposals for standard rules to govern new stock market issues whereby companies would be obliged to treat investors equally? Does it believe that preferential treatment of certain domestic investors infringes the ban on discrimina- tion? Will it investigate issue procedures in Germany in the light of the Infineon case and its implications? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (17 May 2000) In order to create a common European market for securities and a common capital market, several directives have been adopted to harmonise investor protection in the national securities legislation. The aim is to create minimum standards of harmonised rules for securities transactions in the internal market. Therefore, the directives harmonising European legislation in the securities field refer in principle to securities transactions and not to investors. The directives concerning the procedure of initial public offering are Council Directive 79/279/EEC of 5 March 1979 co-ordinating the conditions for the admission of securities to official stock exchange listing (1) and Council Directive 80/390/EEC of 17 March 1980 coordinating the requirements for the drawing up, scrutiny and distribution of the listing particulars to be published for the admission of securities to official stock exchange listing (2). They harmonise minimum standards for the admission of securities to official stock exchanges and for adequate investor information. They do not regulate the initial allocation of shares (allotment). No decision on European level has yet been made on requirements concerning the procedure for allotment. Allotment procedures follow national rules and vary between the Member States. To respond to this, national supervisory authorities have decided to create a working group within the framework of