# CE2004078EN.01051002.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/510 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/510

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(2004/C 78 E/0531)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3288/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

(5 November 2003)

Subject:   Establishment of businesses in the municipality of Losser

Subject:

The municipality of Losser in the Netherlands is situated on the border with Germany. At present the municipality is encountering serious difficulties with the establishment of businesses. On the Dutch side of the border it is very difficult to set up small business parks, whereas on the German side such sites do exist. However, entrepreneurs from Losser who wish to set up businesses on the other side of the border are confronted by different regulations and legislation, which makes it very hard for them to do so. The Anholt Agreement, which currently governs cross-border cooperation between Dutch and German regional authorities, does not provide for coordination of German and Dutch legislation or present any options. It is not possible to set up cross-border business parks either, because the regional plan in the Netherlands prohibits this.

I have previously made the point that border regions have a pioneering role to play in European integration and that they are the prime sites for putting European cooperation into practice by coordinating legislation and public facilities.

| 1. | Does the Commission agree that encouraging the establishment of businesses on or across national borders should be a priority in border regions? |
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1.

Does the Commission agree that encouraging the establishment of businesses on or across national borders should be a priority in border regions?

| 2. | Does the Commission agree that it is very important to coordinate legislation or make it more flexible in the area described above, and will it take measures to encourage Member States to do this? |
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2.

Does the Commission agree that it is very important to coordinate legislation or make it more flexible in the area described above, and will it take measures to encourage Member States to do this?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2003)

(23 December 2003)

| 1. | In accordance with the guidelines governing the Community Initiative, Interreg, encouraging entrepreneurship and the development of small firms and local employment initiatives are among the priorities of European programmes for cross-border cooperation. |
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1.

In accordance with the guidelines governing the Community Initiative, Interreg, encouraging entrepreneurship and the development of small firms and local employment initiatives are among the priorities of European programmes for cross-border cooperation.

| 2. | The current generation of programmes for cooperation for the period, 2000-2006, seek to promote the development of joint cross-border, transnational and inter-regional strategies and to overcome the obstacles posed by the existence of different national legal and administrative systems and traditions. National legal and administrative systems are, however, the responsibility of the Member States provided that Community law is respected, for example, with regard to the internal market or competition rules. |
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2.

The current generation of programmes for cooperation for the period, 2000-2006, seek to promote the development of joint cross-border, transnational and inter-regional strategies and to overcome the obstacles posed by the existence of different national legal and administrative systems and traditions. National legal and administrative systems are, however, the responsibility of the Member States provided that Community law is respected, for example, with regard to the internal market or competition rules.

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