WRITTEN QUESTION E-0947/00 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Income and social protection of women employed in shellfish harvesting.
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? C 72 E/10 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 6. 3. 2001 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 June 2000) The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that the level of social security contributions is a matter for the Member States alone. The information available to the Commission on Social Security is contained in the publication Mutual Information System on Social Protection in the Member States of the European Unioní (MISSOC), where details of the various benefits in each Member State may be found. This publication is directly accessible on the Internet at the following address: http://europa. eu. int/comm/employment_social/soc-prot/missoc98. The Commission cannot envisage an aid mechanism which would pay a portion of social security contributions. Such a scheme could not be financed from any of the Commissionís budget headings. (2001/C 72 E/011) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0956/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (29 March 2000) Subject: Abandonment of cultivated land The gradual loss of income which has been affecting nut producers in Catalonia has resulted in an ongoing process of abandonment of cultivation in the countryside of the region, amounting over the 1990s to 39,4 % of all cultivated land. This process of rural dereliction is creating social and economic problems and increasing fire and soil erosion risks. What measures does the Commission intend to take for repopulation and conversion of production in the rural areas of Catalonia and to ensure that cultivated land is no longer left abandoned? Does the Commission intend to dedicate structural measures to this end? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (5 May 2000) The new rural development policy adopted by the Council in June 1999 has become the second pillar of the common agricultural policy. An essential element of the European model of agriculture, it aims by promoting job maintenance and creation to provide a solid and sustainable framework securing the future of rural areas. The main policy foci are a stronger agriculture and forestry sector, greater competitiveness on the part of rural areas, and protection of the environment and rural heritage. Among the structural measures included in Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1) are aid for afforestation of agricultural land, compensatory allowances in less favoured areas and areas with environmental restrictions, and agri-environmental aid. These should help meet the Honourable Memberís concerns. Agri-environmental measures for the period 1995-1999 presented by Spain and approved under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 of 30 June 1992 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of protection of the environ- ment and maintenance of the countryside (2) already permitted aid to nut growers on the terms set in the relevant programmes. As is fully consonant with the subsidiarity principle, it falls to Member States to present their rural development programmes. For non-Objective 1 zones such as Catalonia EAGGF Guarantee aid may be requested for structural action as indicated above. In addition to the action envisaged, programmes must describe the situation in the zone, its specific problems, and the proposed strategy and its priorities