WRITTEN QUESTION E-0433/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Prevention of damage to the muscles and bone structure of school-age children.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/213 Would the Commission consider action against the French Government for tolerating what has been going on for months now and is clearly a hindrance to the functioning of the single market, is a breach of competition rules and could be considered as blatant protectionism? Answer by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (2 March 2000) The Honourable Member has drawn the Commissionís attention to the serious economic impact on Community businesses of the border blockades by French lorry drivers, particularly during the last few weeks. The Commission would like to stress that under Community law it is the responsibility of the Member States to take all necessary and proportionate measures to restore the free movement of goods in their territory when events of this nature take place. With regard to the measures the Commission is entitled to take, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to Council Regulation (EC) No 2679/98 of 7 December 1998 on the functioning of the internal market in relation to the free movement of goods among the Member States (1), which allows the Commission to take rapid action in this type of situation. This action can, initially, take the form of a request for information sent to the Member State on whose territory the obstacles occur. Indeed, the Commission used this option when hauliers took action on 10-11 January 2000 and from 31 January 2000 to 1 February 2000. On each occasion, the Commission received information from the French authorities on the state of the dispute and on the measures taken to avoid blockades within the given time limit of two days. Subsequent Commission action can take the form of a notification requesting the Member State to take all necessary and proportionate measures to restore the free movement of goods within a given time limit. The Commission has not yet made use of this second option. During the recent disputes, it was not needed because the border blockades were lifted. However, the Commission reserves the right to use this option whenever warranted by the situation. The Commission would like to stress that it would not take any action other than that provided for by Regulation (EC) No 2679/98, since it is not within its remit to intermediate in any social problems within the Member States which might result in action of the type causing the obstacles to which the Honourable Member refers. (1) OJ L 337, 12. 12. 1998. (2000/C 280 E/253) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0433/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission (23 February 2000) Subject: Prevention of damage to the muscles and bone structure of school-age children In Italy, there is increasing concern on the part of parents of children of compulsory school age with regard to the weight of the school-bags used to carry books to and from school. Regional and local health authorities have circulated scientific findings and practical advice to help avoid the risks associated with carrying excessively heavy school-bags. In view of the foregoing: 1. Do studies and analyses of this problem exist at Community level? 2. Do standards based on scientific and technical information exist in the other Member States? C 280 E/214 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 3. In view of the information available to it, does the Commission consider that it would be appropriate to propose harmonised rules with a view to providing families with accurate information with regard to preventing muscular and skeletal disorders as a result of carrying school-bags, whose weight should not exceed an acceptable limit? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (23 March 2000) The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that there is a need to prevent musculo-skeletal problems from an early age. At the European level a number of studies on osteo-musculo disorders have already been carried out 1. or are currently underway in the context of the Community research programmes. These projects cover a range of important issues but not yet the specific item in question. Further research would therefore be needed to determine the risk and to suggest possible solutions. Under the programme area Quality of life ü chronic and degenerative disordersí such research could be eligible for Community support. 2. and 3. to put forward proposals for harmonised rules. The Commission is not aware of any standards that exist on this matter, and it has no plans (2000/C 280 E/254) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0435/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (23 February 2000) Subject: Commission proposal on the European Parliament in the planned reform of the Treaties In the document approved by the European Commission pursuant to Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union for the Intergovernmental Conference to amend the Treaties, it is proposed that the number of Members of the European Parliament be maintained at 700, as established in Article 189 of the Treaty of Amsterdam, and that a number of Members may be elected from lists presented throughout the Union. If these proposals were approved, nations without states and European peoples such as Galicia, whom I represent, having stood for a specific list, and others in states like Spain, the United Kingdom and Belgium, which have their own specific national political parties, would suffer, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in terms of their representation in Parliament and their participation in the European institutions. Has the Commission given due consideration to this issue, which concerns the political and cultural diversity of Europe, for which due respect must be shown? Does the Commission intend to consider alternative proposals aimed at solving this serious problem? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (10 March 2000) In its Opinion on the Intergovernmental Conference on institutional reform (1), the Commission argued that the Community would greatly benefit if a number of Members of the European Parliament were elected from European lists. Even if this suggestion were taken up, the vast majority of Members would continue to be elected in national constituencies. In this respect the Commission felt that it was for Parliament itself to propose new arrangements for allocating seats. It would also point out that the way in which different components of a Member State are represented in the European Parliament depends largely on the electoral system used, and that under Article 190(4) (formerly Article 138) of the EC Treaty it is the prerogative of Parliament to devise a uniform electoral procedure for the elections. (1) Adapting the institutions to make a success of enlargement, Commission Opinion in accordance with Article 48 of the Treaty on European Union on the calling of a Conference of Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to amend the Treaties, COM(00) 34 final