WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3396/98 by Marco CELLAI to the Commission. Commission competition held on 14 September 1998
14. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 135/185 Will the Commission say whether it is aware of the above state of affairs, what action it intends to take and whether it is possible to include the above region in the European network Natura 2000, a move which would make a vital contribution towards protecting these valuable wetlands from plans to convert them into a golf course? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (5 January 1999) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to Oral Question H-1164/98 by Mr Tamino during question time at Parliament’s December 1998 part-session (1). (1) Debates of the Parliament (December 1998). (1999/C 135/233) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3328/98 by Gerardo Fernández-Albor (PPE) to the Commission Subject: European guarantee fund for pensions (10 November 1998) Continuing speculation about the future of pensions has prompted a number of Member States to set up a public reserve fund to finance pensions in the medium and long term. The fund will come into operation if the social security system becomes inadequate, because of the ageing of the population, to cover possible future discrepancies between contributions and benefits. Does the Commission consider that it should devise a European version of this by creating a common fund for the whole European Union, in an attempt, by analogy with the aforementioned national funds, to avoid any future imbalances which may arise in any Member State by introducing a Community system based on solidarity for the future of all the existing pension schemes in the Member States of the Union? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1998) In the area of social protection, Member States are free to fix their own policies on the organisation and operation of social security schemes, provided they comply with Community law on equal treatment for men and women and on social security for migrant workers. Consequently, Member States may agree to set up a public reserve fund to finance pensions in the medium and long term, if they so wish. The Commission has no intention of promoting the idea of a common fund of this nature for the whole Community. (1999/C 135/234) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3396/98 by Marco Cellai (NI) to the Commission (17 November 1998) Subject: Commission competition held on 14 September 1998 Competitions are intended to select from among the candidates those who are most suitable (thus deemed to be the best) for filling responsible positions at the Commission. That objective is therefore vital both for