WRITTEN QUESTION P-0280/00 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Directive on renewable energy.
C 374 E/50 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (7 March 2000) The Commission is currently not undertaking any work on so-called álight pollutioní around large cities in the Community. Insofar as álight pollutioní is a problem, solutions need to take into account other factors such as safety and security. This could best be done at the local level given differing circumstances in line with the principle of subsidiarity. The Commission is very much aware that the wasteful and inefficient use of energy for lighting, including public lighting, and the associated greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production and use of this energy from fossil fuels can contribute to global warming. In the framework of the SAVE programme the Commission has taken a number of initiatives to promote more energy efficient lighting technologies and reduced energy use for lighting in buildings. These initiatives range from minimum efficiency standards for ballasts for fluorescent lighting to voluntary programmes such as the Greenlight programme aimed at encouraging public and private companies to install energy efficient lighting technologies. In many of these initiatives the Commission is working closely with national energy agencies which can provide appropriate technical support. Technologies are also being developed by European industry for public lighting that can reduce considerably the amount of energy used by such installations. To stimulate the market for these technologies, the Commission has recently issued a mandate to the European standardisation bodies. (2000/C 374 E/058) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0265/00 by Isidoro SÆnchez García (ELDR) to the Commission (7 February 2000) Subject: Observatory for cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation In the Commissionís Communication to the European Parliament on guidelines for a Community Initiative concerning trans-European cooperation intended to encourage harmonious and balanced development of the European territory (Interreg), mention is made of an Observatory for cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation. On the basis of their socio-economic characteristics and their geo-strategic situation as a remote region in the Atlantic, what chances to the Canary Islands have of being selected as the site for the Observatory? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (24 March 2000) The Commission has not yet taken a decision regarding the location of the future Observatory for cross- border, transnational and interregional cooperation. However, it ought to be pointed out that this will not be a body of any significant size whose headquarters site would require discussion at all. (2000/C 374 E/059) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0280/00 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission (3 February 2000) Subject: Directive on renewable energy The Commission has repeatedly failed to submit a proposal for a directive on access for producers of renewable energy to the internal market in electricity, since no dialogue has been entered into with the 28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/51 renewable energy industry and its representatives. Moreover, SMEs in the sector and Member States with more generous support systems are strongly opposed to the idea. Does the Commission therefore intend to consult representatives from the renewable energy sector as well as energy producers in the Member States, in order to avoid a fresh confrontation between the advocates of state support and those who favour harmonisation? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (28 February 2000) In March 1999 the Commission presented a working paper Electricity from renewable energy sources and the internal electricity marketí (1). The objective of this paper was to highlight the numerous options available to the Community in addressing the issue of renewable sources electricity generation in the internal electricity market. Prior to the publication of this paper, the Commission had undertaken extensive including representatives of all sectors of the renewable consultations involving all parties concerned, industry (wind, solar, hydro, biomass). Furthermore, the energy consultative committee, in which the renewable industry is represented, had been formally consulted on the issue and gave an opinion. Following the publication of the above working document, the Commission has again received numerous comments on the issue from the renewable industry and other interested parties, further investigations were made and discussions held. Indeed, in the working paper the Commission made it clear that it would make a final decision on the issue only in the light of the reactions to the working paper. Furthermore, the energy consultative committee has again discussed the issue in depth and will give a formal opinion in the near future. Intensive discussion in the working group of the committee involving all sectors of the renewable industry have already taken place. When taking a final decision on the issue, the Commission will take all views into account, including those expressed by the renewable industry, which are of particular relevance and importance in this respect. (1) SEC(1999) 470. (2000/C 374 E/060) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0289/00 by Arie Oostlander (PPE-DE) to the Council (14 February 2000) Subject: Kosovar prisoners in Serbia In a statement by the Interparliamentary Delegation for Relations with South-East Europe, which referred to an EP resolution of 16 September 1999 (B5-0100/1999), the Serbian Government was called upon to release the approximately 1 900 Kosovar prisoners still being held under appalling conditions in Serbian gaols. Is the Council aware that nearly two thousand Kosovars are still imprisoned in Serbia, as they have been since the end of the Kosovo crisis? Will the Council take effective measures to enable these people to return to their families as soon as possible? Reply (16/17 May 2000) The Council fully shares the Honourable Memberís concern over the fate of the Kosovar prisoners still held in Serbia. On the occasion of the 19 July 1999 General Affairs Council, Ministers called on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia to guarantee the International Committee of the Red Cross full access to those