WRITTEN QUESTION E-0345/00 by Jaime Valdivielso de Cué (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Sanidad, European Agency for Food Safety.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/179 (2000/C 303 E/201) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0345/00 by Jaime Valdivielso de CuØ (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Sanidad, European Agency for Food Safety (14 February 2000) On 12 January the Commission proposed the creation of a European Agency for Food Safety, to be set up in the next two years, in view of the situation in the food sector in the Union in the last year and general public distrust of the sector because of cases such as those involving ámad cow diseaseí or dioxin. How will the Commission ensure that this independent committee is operational if its powers are reduced to those of a mere consultative body? What mechanisms does the Commission envisage to ensure consumer safety during the next two years? Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (28 March 2000) As regards the first part of the question, the Commission invites the Honourable Member to refer to its answer to written question E-0231/00 by Mrs Thomas-Mauro (1). Concerning the second part of the question, the Commission would recall that since 1997, the system for the provision of scientific advice has been completely reorganised. Strong emphasis is placed on the excellence, the independence and the transparency of scientific advice. These principles continue to be applied and ensure that consumer health is well protected. The Commission has indicated in the white paper on food safety (2) that over the next two years, having regard to availability of adequate resources, it will evaluate the possibility of further reinforcing the existing scientific support and advice structures as a lead-in to the establishment of the authority. (1) See page 164. (2) COM(1999) 719 final. (2000/C 303 E/202) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0348/00 by Rosa Díez GonzÆlez (PSE), Fernando PØrez Royo (PSE) and Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) to the Commission (14 February 2000) Subject: Commission expert responsible for assessing public aid granted to Spain in the electricity sector According to reports published in Spain, the independent expert appointed by the Commission to assess the costs of transition to competition incurred by electricity companies is calling into question some aspects of the calculations made by the Spanish government when quantifying the costs. What are the expertís objections and how do they affect the calculations made by the Spanish Govern- ment? What conclusions has the expert reached? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (16 March 2000) The consultantís terms of reference were to check whether the assumptions on which the Spanish authorities based their calculation of (CTCs) conformed to internationally recognised standards. The Commission is analysing the consultantís findings and has asked the Spanish authorities for further information. It is too soon to assess the impact of these factors on the level of CTCs. transition to competitioní the ácosts of