WRITTEN QUESTION E-0290/00 by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Council. Phare programme for Croatia.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/117 Blends of olive oil of various origins are not prohibited and are even indispensable where the oils of certain regions are concerned if consumers are to have the qualities of oil they want to buy. This is an important difference from the wine sector. Research continues at Community level on a databank for olive oil as mentioned by the Honourable Member and the Commission is closely monitoring progress. But the geographical characteristics of olive oils emerge as statistical averages and absolute proof of origin for a particular lot is rarely possible. The situation is much more complex again in the case of the inevitable blends of olive oils from different varieties, soil types or geographical origins. The Commission therefore considers that at the moment a Community olive oil databank for fraud- fighting purposes is not a priority. (2000/C 330 E/130) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0287/00 by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: EU number plates in Switzerland In point 3 of his reply to my question E-4110/98 (1) Commissioner Kinnock states that the Commission has asked the Swiss authorities to recognise the distinguishing sign. Member States will be informed as soon as the Commission gets a reply from the Swiss authoritiesí. In the meantime I have learned through informal channels that about a year ago the Swiss authorities sent a letter to their police and customs services explaining that cars with EU number plates no longer require a separate country sticker. 1. 2. Is the Commission aware of this letter, and does this constitute the recognition referred to in point 3? Have the Member States been informed of this recognition? (1) OJ C 325, 12. 11. 1999, p. 56. Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (17 March 2000) In their letter of 11 February 1999 the Swiss authorities informed the Commission that they were 1. prepared to recognise the distinctive nationality marks issued by the state of registration of motor vehicles and their trailers in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of 3 November 1998 on the recognition in intra-Community traffic of the distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered (1). The Member States were informed of that recognition by means of a letter to the offices of their 2. permanent representatives dated 9 March 1999. (1) OJ L 299, 10. 11. 1998. (2000/C 330 E/131) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0290/00 by Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Council (14 February 2000) Subject: Phare programme for Croatia In view of the positive outcome of the elections in Croatia on 3 January 2000, will the Council reconsider the suspension of the Phare programme for Croatia? C 330 E/118 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 Reply (2 May 2000) Recent parliamentary and presidential elections in Croatia, and the democratic way in which they were conducted, have opened a new phase in Croatian politics. The European Union has been very encouraged by this development, which has brought an end to a chapter in Croatian history and marks a beginning of a new era for the country. The Union has reiterated its willingness to work very closely with the new authorities in their quest for making Croatia a full fledged member of the Euro-Atlantic communityí. Against this background, the General Affairs Council decided already in January to rapidly put in place a Joint EU-Croatia Taskforceí within the framework of áthe Stabilisation and Association Processí in order to prepare the ground for future contractual relations. The Task Force was set up on 15 February at a meeting in Brussels. Furthermore, at its February meeting, the Council feasibility of opening negotiations with Croatia on a Stabilisation and Association Agreementí. invited the Commission to prepare a study on the As the Honourable Parliamentarian is certainly aware, the Council in the European Unionís Regional Approach to South East Europe of 29 April 1997í set a number of criteria for the granting of preferential trade measures, PHARE assistance and contractual relations. These criteria are reviewed on a regular basis. On the occasion of the latest review in February 2000, no major changes were decided upon for any of the countries covered by the EUís Stabilisation and Association Processí and the Regional Approachí criteria, i. e. the situation as far as PHARE assistance to Croatia, remained unchanged for the time being. However, the Commission has sent a fact finding mission to Croatia in February in order to study possibilities to support the reform efforts, including the possibility of extending the PHARE programme to Croatia. (2000/C 330 E/132) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0309/00 by Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: De Zoom ü Kalmthoutse Heide border park development (4 February 2000) The Benelux Council has launched a project to develop the De Zoom ü Kalmthoutse Heide border park. A management and organisation plan has been drawn up under which work can be carried out on the conservation, management and development of the parkís biological, ecological and cultural-historical assets, taking the different resources that the area possesses into account. As reported in the BN/de Stem newspaper (16 December 1999), the process of drawing water from within the area is causing the land to dry out in the Groote Meer estate. Thousands of nesting sites for at least 25 different bird species have already disappeared. It is also feared that development of the border park will result in a massive increase in visitors to the area. 1. What action will the Commission take to prevent further drying out of land in the area, and if necessary to raise the water table? Does the Commission agree that any increase in large-scale visitor activity in a bird habitat conflicts 2. with the principles underlying the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) (1). Does the Commission share my view that the most vulnerable areas should be closed to the public, 3. except possibly for small-scale educational visits? (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1