WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2015/98 by José APOLINÁRIO to the Commission. Support for the creation of an energy agency in the Algarve region
C 31/112 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 5. 2. 1999 However, Directive 86/613/EEC of 11 December 1986 on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in a self-employed capacity, and on the protection of self-employed women during pregnancy and motherhood (2) places a requirement on the Member States to observe the principle of equal treatment for self-employed persons as regards access to an economic activity. 3 and 4. The Commission invites the Honourable Member to provide more detailed information on the situation in question so that it can assess whether the practices criticised are compatible with Community law. The Commission would also like to draw the Honourable Memberís attention to the fact that Article 169 of the EC Treaty does not give the Commission the right to institute infringement proceedings against the Member States in cases where Community law has been violated by private bodies. On the basis of the information currently available to the Commission, it appears that the Spanish authorities cannot be accused of any infringement. Persons who consider themselves victims of a violation of the principle of equal treatment should themselves bring an action before the national courts. If there are any doubts as to how provisions of Community law should be interpreted, the national courts may apply to the Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling, as provided for in Article 177 of the EC Treaty. (1) Case 126/86 GimØnez Zaera [1987] ECR 3697 (Article 2); Case 78/90 SociØtØs Compagnie Commerciale de líOuest, ECR I-1847 (Article 3). (2) OJ L 359, 19. 12. 1986. (1999/C 31/152) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2015/98 by JosØ ApolinÆrio (PSE) to the Commission (30 June 1998) Subject: Support for the creation of an energy agency in the Algarve region In the context of the project for creating an energy agency in the Algarve region, and given the existence in the past of operational obstacles to the realization of this project, can the Commission explain what possibilities exist for supporting this initiative in the Algarve? Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (3 September 1998) In the context of the action to set up regional and urban energy agencies under the SAVE II programme, the Commission received a proposal to set up an agency in the Algarve. The proposal was put forward jointly with the Spanish Province of Huelva. All the proposals sent in were evaluated in accordance with the SAVE II Committeeís procedures, ensuring maximum transparency and discipline. Unfortunately, this particular project did not make it onto the list of energy agencies to receive funding in 1998. (1999/C 31/153) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2020/98 by Edith Müller (V) to the Commission (30 June 1998) Subject: Democracy and Civil Society Awards On 18 May 1998 the EU and the US announced a series of Democracy and Civil Society Awards. Fifty winners, including associations and individuals from 26 countries, received $20 000 each. Who nominated candidates for these awards, and who selected the winners? How much of the total prize money of $1 000 000 came from the EU budget, and from which budget heading? Was this a one-off initiative, or will it become a regular event? Why were there no prizewinners from Kosovo?