WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3525/98 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work
21. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/143 As regards the scope of the Regulation, it covers all aid coming under Articles 92 and 93 of the EC Treaty. Insofar as certain tax measures satisfy the conditions of Article 92(1), they are therefore also covered by the Regulation. There is no provision in the Commission proposal for the publishing of notifications, for legal and practical reasons. The purpose of such an exercise would be to invite third parties to submit comments. The EC Treaty reserves this third-party role for the formal investigation procedure: the decision to initiate the procedure is published in the Official Journal. Such a procedure is mandatory in all aid cases which give rise to doubts as to their compatibility with the common market. It does, however, appear unnecessary for a large number of routine cases which quite clearly satisfy the criteria published by the Commission, and for which it would only delay the Commission’s decisions. All Commission decisions are, however, published in the Official Journal. (1999/C 142/189) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3525/98 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (25 November 1998) Subject: Protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work With regard to the Council Directive amending for the second time Directive 90/394/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work (COM(98) 170 final − 98/ 0093/SYN) (1), up to now there has only been evidence of the carcinogenic nature of beech and oak dust, which can cause adenocarcinomas of the nose and/or mucous membranes of the nose. In addition, the Scientific Committee has stated that there is clear evidence implicating other types of wood. Differences still exist between the Member States with regard to the limit values for beech and oak wood dust and to some extent also with regard to wood dust in general. The various limit values range from 2 to 10 mg/m3. Can the Commission therefore incorporate in the directive an initial value of 5 mg/m3 as the threshold for exposure at work with the proviso that that value must be reviewed within five years on the basis of scientific data? (1) OJ C 123, 22. 4. 1998, p. 21. Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (15 December 1998) The Commission has already taken account of the Honourable Member’s suggestions in its amended proposal for a Council Directive amending for the second time Directive 90/394/EEC (1). This proposal was adopted on 12 November 1998 following the opinion expressed by Parliament. (1) COM(98) 665 final. (1999/C 142/190) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3530/98 by Georg Jarzembowski (PPE) to the Commission (25 November 1998) Subject: Special EU representative for Tibet The report of 8 July 1998 by the EU troika’s human rights mission to Tibet from 1 to 10 May 1998 showed clearly that the situation in Tibet is not satisfactory. The lack of transparency concerning respect for human rights in Tibet makes it imperative, from the point of view of the European Parliament, to appoint a special representative of the European Union for Tibet. Parliament’s resolution of 15 January 1998