WRITTEN QUESTION E-3903/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (11 December 1997)

Subject: Special measures for island regions

The Amsterdam Intergovernmental Conference adopted a special declaration on island regions of the European Union which states: 'The Conference recognises that island regions suffer from structural handicaps linked to their island status, the permanence of which impairs their economic and social development. The Conference accordingly acknowledges that Community legislation must take account of these handicaps and that specific measures may be taken, where justified, in favour of these regions in order to integrate them better into the internal market on fair conditions.'

On 16 May 1997 the European Parliament adopted Resolution B4-0375/97 ((OJ C 167, 2.6.1997, p. 249. )) calling for an integrated policy adapted to the specific needs of island regions of the European Union. On the basis of the above and given the great importance of the development of island regions for Greece, will the Commission say what it intends to do to help implement the demands set out in the Amsterdam Declaration and the European Parliament resolution referred to above?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (13 February 1998)

The Treaty of Amsterdam will introduce new provisions into the EC Treaty to take account of the particular situation of islands:

- Article 130a will be amended and will henceforth include an explicit reference to islands;

- a declaration on island regions will be annexed to the Treaty, recognising that they suffer from permanent structural handicaps which impair their economic development and require specific measures to integrate them better into the internal market.

The Commission has always shared the desire of the island regions for a coherent approach to this question. Indeed, during the current programming period, the majority of the large islands in the Community are eligible under Objective 1 of the Structural Funds. During the period 1994-99, the Structural Funds are expected to contribute almost ECU 7 billion to implement programmes in these regions. These amounts are being used to part-finance transport infrastructure, support selected fields in the primary or secondary sectors, improve the environment, develop quality tourism and stem the flight from the land by improving living conditions for those living in the countryside.

Current legislation is particularly favourable to the remote Greek islands which are handicapped by distance because the Community contribution there can amount to 85% of the total cost of the measures applied instead of 75% in the Objective 1 regions.

With regard to the situation of the Greek islands during the forthcoming programming period, the Commission would point out that the Structural Funds programmes are drawn up in partnership with the Member States, which submit their regional development plan to the Commission. This means that the documents adopted reflect the choices and priorities initially fixed by each Member State.

The statistics currently available to the Commission (average GDP in 1992-94) do not suggest that the Greek islands will cease to be eligible under Objective 1. In addition, under the draft Regulations that the Commission is now preparing, the remote Greek islands which are handicapped by distance would continue to enjoy a higher rate of part-financing from the Community.