WRITTEN QUESTION E-1937/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Losses from EYDAP (Athens) water supply network.
C 219 E/48 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 (2000/C 219 E/055) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1928/99 by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Council (4 November 1999) Subject: The treatment of Romanies in the Czech Republic Is the Council aware that the council of the Czech town Usti Nad Labem is planning to build a wall in a residential area to separate the part where Romanies live from the part where non-Romanies live? Does the Council consider this contrary to the Copenhagen criteria, which must be met by applicant countries? If so, what action will the Council take? Reply (31 January 2000) Yes, the Council was aware of the wall erected between the Romany and the non-Romany populations in Usti Nad Labem and welcomes the fact that it has been demolished by the local authority. The Union had previously joined the Czech Government in condemning the erection of this wall and supported the latter when it urged the local authorities, within whose mandate it fell, to do everything possible to dismantle the wall. The Union is paying close attention to minority rights, not least the rights of the Romanies in all candidate countries. Action is being taken with the governments in these countries to continue the efforts to improve the situation of their Romany populations. The erection of a wall in the Czech town has been but one such occasion to raise the Romany issue. The Union will continue to keep track of the way the situation develops and will be providing support in this matter with other international organisations actively involved (e. g. the OSCE and the Council of Europe). (2000/C 219 E/056) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1937/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (4 November 1999) Subject: Losses from EYDAP (Athens) water supply network The European Union provides funding for projects relating to the water supply network in Attica. As water is a basic human requirement, it must be managed to minimise the risk of wastage so that supplies are secure and in sufficient quantity. The EYDAP network reportedly loses large quantities of water. Are there internationally recognised standards for the quantities of water lost in transit through 1. supply networks? What is the percentage range? Given that a large part of the water supply and sewerage network in Greece is funded by the 2. Community, are there figures for the quantities of water lost from the EYDAP network? 3. Is the Commission aware of the above problem and, if so, what measures does it propose to take? 1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/49 Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (8 December 1999) The water lost from the EYDAP network counts as ánon-recorded consumptioní, which mainly covers 1. water leaks but also includes water used by firemen for fire hydrants and that used by the municipal services for cleaning purposes and for watering parks. There is no international standard in this field. However, non-recorded consumption of around 8 % to 15 % is considered acceptable, with a European average at roughly 15 %. 2. According to information forwarded by the Greek authorities, the level of non-recorded water consumption for the company referred to by the Honourable Member is about 23 %. The authorities aim to bring back this rate down to 15 % over the next eight years. 3. The Commission is aware of the problem and is closely monitoring the situation. It is willing to examine the possibility of aid from the Cohesion Fund should the Greek authorities make such a request. (2000/C 219 E/057) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1943/99 by Isidoro SÆnchez García (ELDR) to the Commission (4 November 1999) Subject: The information society and the ultraperipheral regions The development of the European information society is of the greatest importance for the ultraperipheral regions, since it constitutes a means of overcoming some of the particular difficulties they face. Their small size means that market forces do not operate there in the way they do in mainland regions; this gives rise to de facto monopolies which slow down or even block access to specific infrastructures and advanced services which are more and more widespread on the mainland. Is the Commission prepared to enact measures to ensure that telecommunication user services can be provided in the ultraperipheral regions on a competitive basis and under quality conditions identical to those in mainland regions, by establishing áminimum ultraperipheral communications serviceí parameters? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1999) The Commission agrees that the development of the European information society is important for all regions and for both private citizens and commercial businesses. The Honourable Member is right to point out that competitive market forces in the telecommunications sector may not work as well in ultra-peripheral regions as they do in mainland or more populated regions. This possibility is recognised in Directive 98/10/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 26 February 1998 on the application of open network provision (ONP) to voice telephony and on universal service in a competitive environment (1). Member States are obliged to ensure that at least one designated operator provides telephone service in the whole of the national territory and the Directive also specifies the nature and quality of services to be provided, and requires that the subscriber connection supports data and facsimile services