WRITTEN QUESTION E-0934/00 by Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Commission's responsibility for monitoring the cross-border shipment of large quantities of hazardous waste from Hungary into EU Member States.
C 46 E/82 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 13. 2. 2001 Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1), which covers the 2000-2006 programming period, provides for several instruments which can be used in future to provide assistance with rebuilding the infrastructures, capacities and means of production which are essential to the economic development of the Communityís regions. Areas which are chosen for the new Objective 2 in Italy will be able to receive Structural Fund support; disaster areas which are not selected to come under that new Objective but which were previously eligible under the old Objectives 2 and 5b will also be able to obtain appropriations by way of transitional support. Disaster areas which are not eligible will not be able to receive support under Objective 2 of the Structural Funds. Within the framework of these rules, the Commission will examine any applications from the national and regional authorities with the utmost care. (1) OJ L 161, 26. 6. 1999. (2001/C 46 E/086) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0934/00 by Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (29 March 2000) Subject: Commissionís responsibility for monitoring the cross-border shipment of large quantities of hazardous waste from Hungary into EU Member States In its answer of 11 January 2000 to my question about the shipment of 14 000 tonnes of waste containing PCBs (E-2824/99) (1) the Commission said that Article 4 of Regulation 259/93 (2) implements the Basle Convention in so far as it weighs up the objective of proximity in waste disposal against the need to dispose of waste in an environmentally acceptable manner. It has now been revealed that some of this waste has been brought to Saxony-Anhalt (Germany), and has thus been transported through Austria and/or the Czech Republic. In the light of the above: 1. How can the Commission judge in this case the rightness of the decision that, on balance, the principle of proximity should not prevail and that such long transport routes were thus acceptable, if it has no information about opportunities of environmentally friendly disposal of the waste at a nearer destination? 2. What responsibility does the Commission consider is imposed upon it by its role of monitoring the proper implementation of Regulation 259/93 in the Member States? 3. Does the Commission consider that, in a case where doubts might exist as to whether the regulation has been complied with, the necessary information from the authorities responsible in the Member States for authorising the cross-border shipment of hazardous waste, so as to check that the regulation is correctly implemented? it should obtain all (a) If so, will it carry out such checks in the case of PCB waste from Gare (Hungary), and has it already taken steps in that direction? (b) If not, why does it not consider such checks necessary? 4. Has the Commission yet received further information about the Gare case? (a) If so, what? (b) If not, why has it not yet received the information which it said in its reply to Question E-2824/ 99 that it was still awaiting? (1) OJ C 280 E, 3. 10. 2000, p. 139. (2) OJ L 30, 6. 2. 1993, p. 1. 13. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 46 E/83 Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (15 May 2000) the As outlined in the answer to the the Honourable Memberís Written Question E-2824/99 (1), Commission as such does not exercise any direct control functions with regard to specific waste shipments under Council Regulation (EEC) 259/93 of 1 February 1993 on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the Community. The supervision and control procedures established by the Regulation and directly applicable in the Member States, are applied by the authorities designated by the Member States according to Article 36 of the Regulation. It is up to them to request Hungary to provide the information required by Article 19 (3) of the Regulation and, more generally, to determine on the basis of the facts of a specific case in question, whether to authorise a given waste shipment or not. The Commission notes the information provided by the Honourable Member, that the waste shipment in question was apparently shipped to Germany for final disposal. It has so far not had any indications, that in authorising the shipment the German authorities would have acted in violation of Community legislation, and, more specifically, in breach of Council Regulation (EEC) 259/93. The Commission will request the German authorities for further information, following which it will determine whether further action on its part is necessary. (1) OJ C 280 E, 3. 10. 2000, p. 139. (2001/C 46 E/087) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0938/00 by Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission (29 March 2000) Subject: Community aid for the processing of grape juices (DG Agriculture) In the context of the reform of the COM in wine (Regulation EC 1493/1999) (1), due to come into force on 1 August 2000, and in accordance with Article 35 of the Regulation, Community aid for the processing of grape juices from table grapes (the use of which is illegal in winemaking) will no longer be granted. This lack of Community aid will involve an increase in production costs of ITL 11 986 per hectolitre for Italian grape juice producers. This will lead to social tensions, especially in the more economically disadvantaged regions. Can the Commission therefore say whether the implementing regulations for the COM in wine, which are currently being revised, might provide for the maintenance of aid for table-grape juices, so as to guarantee equal opportunities for all EU producers? (1) OJ L 179, 14. 7. 1999, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (3 May 2000) Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999 of 17 May 1999 on the new market organisation (COM) for wine will come into force on 1 August 2000. Article 35(3) restricts aid on grapes, grape must and concentrated grape must used to make grape juice or other fruit products to wine grape varieties, i. e. those from which wine may be produced for the market. No aid will therefore be paid for production of grape juice and other food products from table grapes of varieties not classified as wine grapes