WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3490/98 by Luigi MORETTI Presence of uranium in building cement
C 341/6 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 29. 11. 1999 The proposal lays down a minimum age of 18 years for this category of personnel and the Commission considers that it is unnecessary to set down further prescriptions of their career structure which should be left to the industrial partners or the commercial practices of the operators. Further prescription would, in the Commission’s opinion, be an unnecessary restriction on the labour market. (1999/C 341/008) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3472/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission Subject: Demarcation of the outer limit of the Argentinian EEZ (25 November 1998) In its answer of 22 April 1998 to Written Question E-0496/98 (1) on the matter in question, the Commission stated its agreement with the view that situations such as those which had led to the seizure of the vessel Arpón ‘cause difficulties in interpretation and generate a degree of instability for the ships operating in this region’. The Commission added that it ‘further considers that the coastal state has a clear duty under the terms of Articles 56(2) and 75 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea to provide all the details necessary to define an EEZ and that it is answerable under international law if it fails to do so’. Consequently, ‘in order to be able to resolve this situation, the Argentinian authorities are willing to hold a technical meeting with Spain in which the Commission is also willing to participate. If the legal uncertainty continues to persist afterwards, a more formal step may be envisaged’. In view of the lack of headway made since then towards clarifying the Argentinian EEZ: 1. Will the Commission say what measures it intends to take in order to resolve these problems, which are creating a climate of uncertainty and instability for the Community vessels operating in the zone? 2. What measures does it intend to adopt to ensure that the Republic of Argentina complies with the obligations incumbent upon it under Articles 56(2) and 75 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and how does it intend to make Argentina accountable should compliance not be forthcoming? 3. Will it specify what ‘more formal’ step it envisages taking if the legal uncertainty persists, as is indeed the case? (1) OJ C 323, 21. 10. 1998, p. 41. Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (9 March 1999) Since the arrest of the ‘Arpon’ on 13 May 1997, there have been no further incidents involving Community vessels. Consequently, the aspect of legal insecurity would seem to be no longer an issue and no further action is required. The Commission has not participated in any bilateral discussions between Spain and Argentina on this matter. (1999/C 341/009) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3490/98 by Luigi Moretti (NI) to the Commission (25 November 1998) Subject: Presence of uranium in building cement Recent scientific research has shown that it is possible to find traces of uranium in the cement commonly used in the construction of buildings, including houses, schools and hospitals. Is the Commission aware of this scientific research? What does it intend to do in order to ensure that such buildings are safe?