WRITTEN QUESTION E-2547/99

by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 January 2000)

Subject: Former frontier cities

Protracted piecemeal research involving many officials from different Directorates-General of the Commission has revealed a total absence of any study by the European Union institutions concerning all those territorial and economic constructs which, as part of the process of creating the single internal market and, to an even greater extent, with the entry into force of the Schengen Agreement, have seen the basis of their own socio-economic organisation disappear, namely frontiers.

While we are all undoubtedly in favour of the birth of an ever closer European Union, we have an absolute duty to meet the needs of all of Europe's citizens. When the Schengen Agreement entered into force, the only Community measure provided for a specific mobility scheme for customs officials, but nothing was done for all those who had some kind of dependent activity associated with the existence of frontiers.

Does the Commission not consider it necessary and a matter of urgency to carry out a detailed analysis of the needs of these specific areas of the European Union?

Does it not consider it opportune to provide specific logistical and financial support for those who, for a brief period, are being penalised by the single market?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2000)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member's concern about the social consequences of the internal market and considers that efficient market outcomes are only acceptable if they conform with the

Community's social objectives and values. The maturing internal market requires a strategy that delivers tangible benefits to all concerned, be they citizens or businesses, including those located in frontier regions and cities, and whatever their circumstances. It is for this reason that the Commission adopted its strategy for the European Union's internal market(1). This takes account of the internal market's contribution to the broader objectives of the Union, and was endorsed by the Helsinki European Council.

The main aim of this strategy is constantly to improve the performance of the internal market in the years ahead for the benefit of citizens and business alike. These interests are not mutually exclusive and if they do conflict they have to be reconciled. The Commission is monitoring and reviewing the effects of existing internal market measures continuously by using the single market scoreboard, and the Cardiff report which provides an annual assessment of the functioning of product and capital markets. The Cardiff report aims to examine markets in a broad sense, and therefore tries to take account of the social impact of market outcomes.

The 2000 Cardiff report(2) will show that economic and social cohesion among European regions (in general) has improved considerably. The gross domestic product (GDP) per head in the 10 regions with the lowest income levels increased from 41 % to 50 % of the Community average between 1986 and 1996. In addition contrary to predictions, between 1988 and 1998, the geographic concentration of manufacturing activities across Member States has declined. This means that peripheral and smaller Member States have actually grown faster than larger Member States.

In order to ensure that European citizens make full use of their rights, the dialogue with citizens and business offers new ways of communication with the public. Through a website and call centre (with a freephone number for each Member State), citizens can submit questions and receive personalised advice on their internal market rights and opportunities. Feedback from the dialogue with citizens and business can be used to respond to outstanding problems experienced by citizens and businesses to help them when doing business, or travelling, across borders to neighbouring regions. It also helps to improve the interactive nature of policy development with the aim of improving the functioning of the internal market.

The Commission will present an annual review and update of its internal market strategy for discussion with the Parliament, the Council and all interested parties. The first of these reviews is due in April 2000.

In addition, over the last 10 years, the structural funds, through the Interreg Community initiative, have provided around 3 500 million for the development of cross-border regions within the Community. A similar sum is likely to be available under the new period of Interreg which will run from 2000 to 2006. Although the principal aim of the cross-border part of Interreg is to overcome the barrier effect that borders cause, there is nothing to prevent the Member States and regions participating in an Interreg programme from using some of the funds available to assist those who may temporarily suffer as a result of changes which, in a broader picture, will strengthen the internal market.

(1) COM(1999) 624 final.

(2) Ref. after adoption.