WRITTEN QUESTION E-0862/00 by Marielle De Sarnez (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission view on the introduction of advertising into state educational establishments.
C 72 E/8 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 3. 2001 At this stage, the Commission does not have the data which would enable it to quantify the impact 4. of its proposal in the countries which have applied for membership. (1) OJ C 89 E, 28. 3. 2000. (2001/C 72 E/008) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0860/00 by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) and Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission Subject: Fisheries agreement with Mexico (22 March 2000) the EU-Mexico free trade agreement, Following the recent signing of the Mexican authorities have expressed great satisfaction at the results obtained, inter alia, in the fisheries sector. Recently, a member of the Mexican government proudly stated that Mexico had extremely extensive fishing grounds and low levels of fish consumption ü in other words, the opposite to Europe. The same sources state that as Mexico did not, in the agreement, assume any obligation to grant licences to the EU, there is every likelihood of a large increase in exports of Mexican fish to the EU. What are the provisions on fisheries of the free trade agreement with Mexico? Does it in fact include provision for EU vessels to be licensed to fish in Mexican waters? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 May 2000) The Decision adopted on 23 March 2000 by the Community-Mexico Joint Council, due to come into force on 1 July, provides for creation of a Community-Mexico free-trade area. Most trade in fishery products ü accounting for € 74 million and 0,3 % of total trade ü would be liberalised over a maximum of ten years. Establishment of the free-trade area will naturally result in more trade, to the benefit of both partners. The specific vulnerabilities of the Community industry have however been taken into account by means of deferred or partial (imposition of quotas) liberalisation for certain products. The trade agreement has no provisions on fishery resources. Mexico is not therefore obliged to offer fishing licences to Community vessels. Nor does the agreement make entry into force of the trade concessions conditional on existence of a fishery agreement. Thus any increase in Mexican fish exports to the Community would result not from the lack of a fishery agreement but more accurately from the free-trade agreement. (2001/C 72 E/009) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0862/00 by Marielle De Sarnez (PPE-DE) to the Commission (22 March 2000) Subject: Commission view on the introduction of advertising into state educational establishments For several years now, companies have been insinuating themselves into state educational establishments through advertising, sponsorship, brand-names and distance teaching. This practice, which seeks to turn schoolchildren into consumers, is now taking on worrying proportions in France and in a number of other EU countries and is consequently undermining the established principle of equality in state education. All too often, these private companies take advantage of the lack of resources available to teachers to do their work. 6. 3. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 72 E/9 As this phenomenon is becoming increasingly widespread and commonplace throughout the Union, I would like to ask the Commission to outline its view on this matter and to reveal whether any legislation to limit the introduction of commerce into state schools is in the pipeline. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (27 July 2000) The Commission is aware of the importance of the issue raised by the Honourable Member, and of the positive and negative aspects of these commercial practices, as can be seen from the study entitled Marketing in schoolsí, which was financed by the Commission and has been available on the Internet (1) since late 1998. Where the use of such practices results in misleading advertising or hidden advertising messages, the provisions of Council Directive 84/450/EEC of 10 September 1984 relating to the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning misleading advertising (2) apply. However, in line with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, the Commission does not believe that adopting more specific legislation at Community level is the best solution to this problem. The Commission has therefore already contacted the parties concerned, including consumer organisations, to encourage them to start talks on a set of non-binding rules for commercial practices which target children and young people. (1) http://europa. eu. int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/library/surveys/sur03_en. html. (2) OJ L 250, 19. 9. 1984. (2001/C 72 E/010) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0947/00 by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission (29 March 2000) Subject: Income and social protection of women employed in shellfish harvesting In Galicia 8 500 women manually harvest shellfish under licence from the Fisheries Ministry of the Galician regional government. The 1993 Fisheries Law of Galicia obliged the women to register for social security purposes with the RØgimen Especial del Mar (Marínersí Special Scheme) as independent self- employed workers. In view of the very low incomes (on average Ptas 300 000 per annum) they earn, there has traditionally been a tacit agreement between the government and the sector under which the workers were not obliged to pay the corresponding social security contributions, which would be in the region of Ptas 168 000 per annum, or 56 % of their total income. The Galician regional government recently stated that unless the women were able to show evidence that they had joined the Marínersí Special Scheme (Marínersí Social Security Institute), their licences would not be renewed. The workers have called for negotiations with the regional and national governments aimed at agreeing contributions based on income earned or amount of time worked (an average of four hours per day for between eight and ten days per month, ten months per year). What are the Commissionís views on workers being asked to pay 56 % of their income in social security contributions? Is the Commission aware of other cases in the European Union where workers contribute over 50 % of their income to the social security system? Could the Commission, at the request of the Member State concerned, provide help to ensure that these women are able to continue working without losing a disproportionate amount of their limited incomes?