WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3308/98 by Manuel ESCOLÁ HERNANDO to the Commission. Problems in the alabaster industry in Aragon
21. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/117 (1999/C 142/146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3298/98 by Paul Rübig (PPE) to the Commission (9 November 1998) Subject: Directive on the construction of shooting ranges It is understood that the Commission is planning a directive setting out uniform rules on the construction of shooting ranges throughout Europe. Besides safety requirements, new financial provisions concerning high security deposits are also under discussion. A deposit of this kind might threaten the construction of a new shooting range. In view of the subsidiarity principle laid down in Article 3b of the EC Treaty it has to be asked how such a directive can be adopted at EU level? Is it in fact true that a Commission initiative aimed at harmonising the construction of shooting ranges is planned? If so, what are the details? How does the Commission justify the inclusion of this sphere in its terms of reference? Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission (6 January 1999) The Commission has no plans for a directive setting out uniform rules on the construction of shooting ranges. (1999/C 142/147) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3308/98 by Manuel Escolá Hernando (ARE) to the Commission Subject: Problems in the alabaster industry in Aragon (10 November 1998) 95 % of the world’s alabaster production (48 000 tonnes) today takes place in the Autonomous Community of Aragon (Spain), in the area formed by Bajo Martín, Caspe and the lower banks of the Ebro. However, all of the alabaster mined is exported before the manufacturing stage. This is because the mining rights are in the hands of a small number of companies which are not based in the mining area, and which monopolise the entire market, sending the raw material to their own factories and practising quite unjustified prices. In some cases, companies located in the mining area have even had to close down, following severe exploitation problems arising from the power of the owners of the mining rights. This gross concentration of mining rights in the hands of a few is preventing the development of manufacturing enterprises in the places where the alabaster is mined, thus creating obstacles to job creation and population stability. Is the Commission aware of this monopoly on the market in alabaster? Does the Commission intend to take measures to stop this state of affairs, in which this raw material is generating no value added in the area where it is mined? If so, what is the nature of these measures? Can the Commission guarantee supplies of this raw material, in proper free-market conditions and at fair prices, to the enterprises which could be created in the mining area?