WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1446/98 by Bartho PRONK to the Commission. Socio-political adult education and its role in the Commission's education policy
C 354/98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 19. 11. 98 (98/C 354/155) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1437/98 by Miguel Arias Cañ ete (PPE) to the Commission (11 May 1998) Subject: Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund The agreement between the authorities of the United Kingdom and Gibraltar to wind up the so-called Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund as of 31 December 1993, a clear violation of Community law, led the Commission to deliver a reasoned opinion against the United Kingdom, as provided for under Article 169 of the EEC Treaty. The result of the Commissionís action has been the resumption of pension payments since 30 June 1996. Nonetheless, hundreds of Spanish workers and pensioners have yet to receive the payment of arrears corresponding to the period 1 January 1994 to 30 June 1996. Given these circumstances, what measures will the Commission be taking to ensure compliance with the provisions of Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 1408/71 (1) and 574/72 (2), as well as those of Articles 48 to 51 and Article 227 of the Treaty of Rome? (1) OJ L 149, 5. 7. 1971, p. 2. (2) OJ L 74, 27. 3. 1972, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (22 June 1998) The Commission is aware of the problem raised by the Honourable Member concerning the failure to pay arrears for the period 1 January 1994 to 30 June 1996 to some former workers affiliated to the Gibraltar pension fund. In effect, when the Commission decided on 26 June 1997 to close the proceedings instituted against the United Kingdom following the dissolution of this fund, an individual letter was sent to the 6 500 persons who had complained to inform them of the steps taken by the Commission since 1994 to resolve the problem. However, they were also requested to provide information on any difficulties encountered in recovering the pensions in order to ensure that the rights of the beneficiaries were respected. Following this letter the Commission contacted the UK authorities with an eye to resolving the problem cases. If the situation persists the Commission may possibly institute new infringement proceedings. (98/C 354/156) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1446/98 by Bartho Pronk (PPE) to the Commission (11 May 1998) Subject: Socio-political adult education and its role in the Commissionís education policy Further to my question E-603/98 (1) and your answer of 8 April 1998, I should be grateful for answers to the third, fourth and fifth questions I asked. Pursuant to Article 140 of the Treaty, the Commission must reply orally or in writing to questions put to it by the European Parliament or by its Members. Accordingly, you must provide information in response to questions by Members of the European Parliament. Does the Commission lack the information or does it take the line that it does not impart information to a Member of the European Parliament. My questions are: 1. Is it correct that the Commission only supports socio-political topics when they are of immediate relevance to the Commission (e. g. the euro) but offers NGOs no prospect of financing for topics chosen by them?