WRITTEN QUESTION E-2355/99 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Standardisation of flight control systems.
C 225 E/112 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 of 150 676 tonnes. Reports from various quarters had suggested that Morocco had been breaking the said agreements, employing various means to exceed the quota allocated to it by varying degrees. Highly reliable official sources have since confirmed this. According to Eurostat, tomato imports from Morocco over the period 1998-1999 in fact amounted to 181 542 tonnes, more than 30 000 tonnes in excess of the negotiated quota. Confirmation of this was provided by the Director-General for Agriculture himself, Mr Guy Legras, during the partnership day with the outermost regions organised by the Commission under the patronage of its President, Mr Prodi. Mr Legras stated further that the Commission lacked the human resources needed to conduct the inspection work that would ensure that the quantity of tomatoes entering the Community market from Morocco did not exceed the set quota. Bearing in mind that this situation has placed European tomato producers B and above all those in the south, where production calendars coincide with those of Morocco B at a severe disadvantage, what measures has the Commission taken to compel Morocco to comply with its undertakings vis-à-vis the import quota? On what date does it intend to start charging the tariff applicable once the authorised quota ceiling has been exceeded? Does the Commission envisage introducing any other measures to enable it to conduct the inspection duties assigned to it with regard to tomatoes more effectively than has hitherto been the case? Joint answer to Written Questions E-2344/99, E-2345/99, E-2346/99, E-2347/99, E-2348/99 and P-2483/99 given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) The Commission is closely monitoring developments in fresh tomato imports from Morocco. Having noted that the quantities agreed on for the 1998/1999 marketing year were being exceeded, the Commission drew the Moroccan authoritiesí attention to the importance of respecting those quantities if the Community market was to remain in equilibrium. During the current marketing year, developments in imports in October 1999 prompted the Commission to request urgent talks with the Moroccan authorities. Those talks were held in Rabat on 22 December 1999 but did not lead to a solution guaranteeing that the granted quota would not be exceeded. Accordingly, and without prejudice to future talks, the Commission, by Regulation (EC) No 2767/1999, introduced an import licence system, in accordance with the exchange of letters between the Community and the Kingdom of Morocco on 22 December 1994. The Commission would remind the Member States that they are responsible for the correct application of the rules in force concerning imports, including the setting of customs duties due. (2000/C 225 E/119) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2355/99 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission (13 December 1999) Subject: Standardisation of flight control systems Some 30 different flight control systems are currently in use worldwide. This simply exacerbates the problem of air traffic congestion. Standardising flight control systems in Europe might be beneficial both to the environment and to the economy. What does the Commission intend to do to have flight control systems standardised at least in Europe? 8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/113 Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (18 January 2000) On 1 December 1999, the Commission adopted a communication (1) on the current situation of air traffic delays and on new initiatives to be taken to provide the Community with the air traffic management system it needs to ensure the proper functioning of its internal market. The question raised by the Honourable Member, regarding the multiplicity of air traffic control systems in Europe and the urgent need for their integration, is answered in this document. (1) COM(1999) 614 final. (2000/C 225 E/120) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2357/99 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (13 December 1999) Subject: Law on supplementary honorary judges ü 276/97 It is well known that a chronic shortage of staff and structural inefficiencies within the Italian judicial system have resulted in major delays in the processing of civil cases. To remedy this state of affairs, Law 276/97 has been used for the purpose of appointing 1 000 GOAs [temporary honorary judges] in order to enable the civil cases which were still outstanding on 30 April 1995 to be settled within five years. Those recruited as GOAs are mainly lawyers with approximately 35 years of professional experience. Even today, however, there are fewer than half as many of them as was envisaged under the law by means of which they were appointed. Judges attend approximately 35 hearings each day in rooms about 20m2 in size and in the presence of 60 or 70 people. Honorary judges do the same job with the same degree of commitment and responsibility as permanent judges for an annual salary of 20 million lire plus 200 000 lire net for every judgement and settlement, although they do no receive the non-pensionable judgeís allowance which is paid under Law 27/81 to all magistrates to compensate them for the risks involved in the performance of their duties. In the light of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions? 1. Does such a difference in remuneration for what are identical duties and services not contravene the principle of justice and equal treatment for all people which has already been recognised through the application of Law 303/98 in respect of the appointment and remuneration of honorary appeal judges? 2. Does the application of Law 276/97 in the absence of appropriate structures not infringe the laws on safety in the workplace? 3. Would the Commission give its opinion on the need for a possible revision of the law appointing GOAs with retroactive effect from 2 November 1998, so as to ensure that the total remuneration and the judgeís allowance paid to GOAs are equivalent to the total remuneration paid to permanent judges of equal grade and with the same responsibilities? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (18 February 2000) The internal organisation of the administration of justice in a Member State, including the remuneration of staff, does not fall within the scope of Community law. Italy has transposed Community health and safety law into national law. It is for the national authorities to assess whether health and safety measures are sufficient in the circumstances described