ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/99

(2004/C 84 E/0133)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3786/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(11 December 2003)

Subject: Update on funding for the municipality of Pesaro under the action programme to promote civil protection

In reply to my earlier question E-1098/03 (1) asking whether the municipality of Pesaro had submitted projects and obtained funding under the action programme to promote civil protection, the Commission said on 22 April 2003 that the municipality had not submitted any application.

Can the Commission say whether, since that date, any projects have been submitted and what the outcome was?

(1) OJ C 268 E, 7.11.2003, p. 144.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/370

(2004/C 78 E/0390)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1517/03

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(6 May 2003)

Subject: Economic Partnership Agreements

Information and training sessions on how to facilitate non-state actors' participation in dialogue on EPAs are being prepared for EU Delegations. Would the Commission agree that, as ACP Parliaments should be kept informed on such issues and be encouraged to scrutinise the process, these training sessions should also be extended to ACP Parliaments?

Answer given by Mr Lamy on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 2003)

The Commission has repeatedly stressed that Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) negotiations will need to be accompanied by comprehensive consultations with ‘non-state actors’ in both the Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States. This process has already started, but communication and consultations in the ACP States will be enhanced as soon as negotiations on the regional level have started. Commission Delegations will have an important role to play in this context.

The target groups of these activities will vary among countries and regions, and should include business and employer associations, trade unions, farmers associations, consumer groups, non governmental organisations (NGOs), etc. The involvement of trade experts in ACP universities and research institutions will be important as well, especially also in the context of the Sustainability Impact Assessment.

ACP parliaments, and notably those parliamentarians who focus in their work on trade and regional integration, should be fully associated with this process and will have the opportunity to form part of informal contact groups the Commission is going to establish on a regional basis. Indeed, parliamentarians should be in the best position to contribute to the negotiations, as they can make use of official ACP channels, the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly and the informal consultation networks which will be established.

The Parliament, and first of all the European members of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, could be very helpful in identifying appropriate ACP parliamentarians for this purpose. First contacts on this have been made and the Commission would welcome close co-operation in this regard.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/51

(2004/C 78 E/0049)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1867/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 June 2003)

Subject: Average cost of capital in the euro area

Will the Commission please estimate whether there has been a reduction in the average cost of capital in real terms to euro-zone enterprises as a result of the introduction of the euro and the consequent growth of the euro-denominated corporate bond market?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 2003)

While the Commission has monitored developments in the euro-denominated corporate bond market since 1999, the impact of these developments on the average cost of capital to euro-area enterprises has not been estimated directly. The cost of capital is the result of a range of interacting factors, both cyclical and structural, so that it is difficult to isolate the individual impact of increased access to direct debt financing in euro. Nevertheless, the availability of a larger and more liquid euro-denominated corporate bond market has widened the financing opportunities for euro-area enterprises and evidence suggests that this has resulted in lower financing costs. A recent study undertaken on behalf of the Commission (1) estimates that the rapid growth in the stock of euro-denominated corporate bonds since 1999 has reduced the corporate credit spread over the government benchmark by about 90 basis points and that — if integration and growth in the market were to continue at a similar pace — a further reduction of 40 basis points in corporate financing costs would be possible. The study also concludes that gross debt issuance costs in the euro area have already fallen significantly toward a level broadly in line with the United States. With regard to trading costs, the study notes that the secondary market for euro-denominated corporate debt is still very much in its infancy but that as the primary market grows and new, more transparent and liquid trading platforms develop, these costs are likely to fall in the future. More generally, an efficient corporate bond market — in providing an attractive alternative source of financing — can be expected to stimulate efficiency improvements in the equity market and the banking sector also.

(1) See Chapter 4 of the Final Report on ‘Quantification of the Macro-Economic Impact of Integration of EU Financial Markets’ to the European Commission — Directorate-General for the Internal Market, by London Economics in association with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Oxford Economic Forecasting, November 2002, available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/finances/mobil/overview.htm.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/467

(2004/C 84 E/0542)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1306/03

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(7 April 2003)

Subject: Further development of European legislation on car emissions

Now that Directive 98/69/EC (1) has come into force and new cars are equipped accordingly, the question arises as to the further development of EU legislation on car emissions. Community air quality policy calls in particular for a further reduction in NOx and particles. It seems that the technology already exists for significantly reducing particle values in diesel engines. And the question of ultrafine particles in modern diesel-injection petrol engines seems to be developing into a new problem area.

1. What preliminary work has been down on a further stage in car emission legislation?

2. Does the Commission plan a Euro V stage for 2008 with further reductions of NOx and particles, with particular attention being given to ultrafine particles?

3. When will the Commission be presenting a proposal for a Euro V stage?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(7 May 2003)

The Commission is working towards the development of a Euro V standard for the light-duty vehicles covered by the scope of Directive 98/69/EC (2). The main emphasis will be on the reduction of Nitrogen oxides (Nox) and particulate emissions. The control of ultra-fine particulates, due to their perceived association with human health effects, is a priority, not only for diesel engines but also for gasoline direct-injection engines where there are concerns to be addressed. The development of new laboratory methods for measuring ultra-fine particulates is progressing well under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) but there is still some way to go before a rigorous and reliable test method is available for the purposes of type-approving vehicles for their exhaust emissions.

The impacts of measures aiming at a Euro V standard will also have to be assessed taking into account the elements of sustainable development.

The Commission intends that the Euro V stage would apply from the end of the decade for the various categories of vehicles within the scope of Directive 98/69/EC, respecting the same five-year period of legislative stability set by the institutions between the Euro III and Euro IV stages.

A proposal could be expected to be adopted by the Commission at the end of 2004.

(1) OJ L 350, 28.12.1998, p. 1.

(2) Directive 98/69/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 1998 relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/220/EEC, OJ L 350, 28.12.1998.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/76

(2004/C 88 E/0084)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2304/03

by Emma Bonino (NI) to the Commission

(14 July 2003)

Subject: Opening of a European Commission delegation in Yemen

Although the President of the Commission gave an undertaking, during a visit to Brussels by the president of the Republic of Yemen about three years ago, that a proper Commission delegation would be opened in Sana'a in the near future, and although Yemen is a country of strategic importance for the Union from various points of view, the Union is still only represented there via the head of the delegation in Amman.

In view of the progressive consolidation of the rule of law and democratic principles in the country, demonstrated by the recent elections, which were held in a regular manner, and since these values may be strengthened and spread from Yemen throughout the region,

Does the Commission not consider that the time has come to act on the promises made and open a Commission delegation in Sanaa?

Does the Commission not consider that this would help to encourage the Yemeni authorities to continue along the road of consolidating democracy and the rule of law?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2003)

The Commission acknowledges the remarkable progress made by Yemen in the consolidation of the rule of law and democratic principles and very much agrees that a reinforcement of the relations between the Commission and Yemen would further encourage this process of democratisation.

The Commission is considering transforming its existing office in Yemen into a sub-regional Delegation, under the responsibility of the Delegation in Amman. This proposal is at present under review within the context of the overall development of the External Service exercise. The Commission intends to submit a Communication in due course.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/600

(2004/C 88 E/0613)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0830/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(18 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the Culture 2000 programme by the City of Frosinone

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that some local authorities, such as the City of Frosinone, urgently need to use European funds to enhance the common cultural area in all its diversity and respecting all its traditions, nurturing professional mobility, and promoting access to and dissemination of art and culture, can the Commission state:

1. whether the City of Frosinone has submitted projects for the Culture 2000 programme?

2. whether the City of Frosinone has secured funding for these projects?
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/728

(2004/C 88 E/0748)

CORRIGENDA

Corrigendum to the answer to Written Question P-2323/03 by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

( ‘Official Journal of the European Union’ C 65 E of 13 March 2004 )

On page 131, point 2. (b) should read as follows:
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/448

(2004/C 78 E/0471)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3068/03

by Hugues Martin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Funding of bodies which play host to an Info-Point Europe

According to my sources, following the entry into force, on 1 January 2003, of the new Financial Regulation applicable to all the European institutions (Council Regulation (EC) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 (1)) and its implementing procedures, the operating subsidies hitherto granted to bodies which play host to an Info-Point Europe will henceforth be awarded on the basis of a new procedure. Instead of receiving automatic funding, these information centres will be required to take part in an invitation-to-tender procedure, failing which they will not be eligible for subsidies.

In addition to the operating subsidies, the bodies in question also received logistical support, such as supplies of publications, access to the ‘relays and networks Intranet’, back-up from the relays and networks helpdesk, in the form of documentary and technical assistance, from the meeting of relay heads, etc. It has been decided that bodies which submit an appropriate request will continue to receive this logistical support, on a temporary basis, in 2004.

This new procedure, which is intended to increase transparency in connection with the award of funding, raises three questions to which the European Commission alluded without providing a detailed answer:

— What criteria will be used to select the bodies which respond to the invitations to tender?

— Will the logistical support measures continue after 2004?

— In more general terms, the European Commission is now considering new forms of cooperation which will ensure that information is readily available to the public locally, whilst complying with the new rules laid down in the above-mentioned Financial Regulation. Can the Commission be more precise on this point?

(1) OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 33/165

(2004/C 33 E/163)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1757/03

by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 May 2003)

Subject: Possible abuse of authority

There have been fresh incidents in recent days on the periphery of Portuguese waters following the incursion of Spanish fishing vessels. The Portuguese authorities respond to these misdemeanours, which regrettably occur on a fairly regular basis, with firearms and other violent means which are totally disproportionate, particularly between two neighbouring countries which both belong to the EU.

In the light of the above, and bearing in mind Article 49 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which refers to the principles of legality and proportionality of criminal offences and penalties, does the Commission consider the severity of the penalties to be disproportionate to the criminal offence? If so, how does the Commission believe that such abuses of authority in the EU might be curbed?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 2003)

The Commission has no detailed information on the incidents described by the Honourable Member.

It should be noted that under Article 24 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 of 20 December 2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the common fisheries policy (1), the Member States must take the inspection and enforcement measures necessary to ensure compliance with the rules of the common fisheries policy on their territory or in the waters subject to their sovereignty or jurisdiction. Under Article 25 of that Regulation, the Member States must also ensure that appropriate measures are taken, including administrative action or criminal proceedings in conformity with their national law, against the natural or legal persons responsible where the rules of the common fisheries policy have not been respected. In addition, under that Article, the Member States must take immediate measures to prevent vessels or natural or legal persons found in flagrante delicto while committing a serious infringement, as defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 1447/1999 (2), from continuing to do so.

Clearly, any penalties must be applied in compliance with the principles laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights as referred to by the Honourable Member.

Since the Commission has no detailed information on the circumstances, it is unable to answer the Honourable Member's final question.

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.

(2) Council Regulation (EC) No 1447/1999 of 24 June 1999 establishing a list of types of behaviour which seriously infringe the rules of the common fisheries policy, OJ L 167, 2.7.1999.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 33/185

(2004/C 33 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1889/03

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 May 2003)

Subject: Eurostat

Would the Commission give details of all internal audit reports received concerning Eurostat since September 1999?

Would the Commission also give details outlining what was said in these documents with regards to Eurostat?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2003)

On 16 May 2003, as part of its follow-up to the 2001 discharge and at Parliament's request, the Commission sent the secretariat of the Committee on Budgetary Control (Cocobu) six internal audit reports drawn up by Eurostat's internal audit service over the period 1999-2002, in accordance with the rules laid down in the framework agreement on the transmission of confidential documents to Parliament. Also under the terms of that agreement, a report summarising the action taken on the internal audit reports was sent to the Cocobu secretariat on 20 May 2003, and on 3 July 2003 the Commission sent the President of Parliament the audit report entitled ‘Internal audit of the financial systems for Eurostat’, produced by the Directorate-General for Audit on 7 June 2000.

On 9 July 2003 the Commission took note of two reports from its departments concerning financial management and control at Eurostat. The first is an analysis by DG Budget of the audit reports produced by Eurostat's Internal Audit Capability (IAC). Ordered by the Commission on 21 May 2003 and sent to Cocobu on 11 July, the report analyses Eurostat's financial management and control systems and the action taken on internal audit reports from the point of view of compliance with the Financial Regulation. The second report is the interim report produced by the Internal Audit Service (IAS) under the remit it received from the Commission on 11 June 2003. The IAS report has been forwarded to the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).

Finally, on 8 July 2003, Eurostat completed an analysis of certain aspects of the SUPCOM programme. This report was sent to OLAF on 22 July 2003 under Article 7(1) of Regulation 1073/1999.

The Commission would also like to stress that certain audit reports are being investigated by OLAF and that some of these reports form part of the files which OLAF handed over to the judicial authorities in Luxembourg and to the Public Prosecutor at the Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris. The Commission wishes to ensure that ongoing investigations are protected.
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 65/53

(2004/C 65 E/053)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1187/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the FIFG by the municipality of Carrara

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian Ministry for Economic Affairs issued a report on the spending of EU funds.

The report reveals the alarming slowness and inefficiency with which EU funds are allocated to projects by some regional authorities.

The grave concerns about the inadequate use of European funds by local authorities have frequently been echoed by the Commission.

Bearing in mind that some local authorities, such as the municipality of Carrara, urgently need to use European funds to support structural measures in the sector of fisheries, acquaculture and the processing and marketing of the relevant products,

can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Carrara has submitted projects for the FIFG?

2. whether the municipality of Carrara has secured funding for these projects?
EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 33/215

(2004/C 33 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2102/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(25 June 2003)

Subject: CAP reform — Mediterranean produce

Recently, on 3 June, at the close of the European Parliament's debate on the reform of the CAP, Mr Fischler (Commissioner) gave an undertaking that Mediterranean produce would soon be entitled to the same support as that for which other types of agricultural produce are eligible. This is a most interesting and important statement.

The Commission:

— would the Commission say what measures will flow from this granting of aid for Mediterranean produce?

— when, how and in respect of which products does the Commission intend to implement this new policy?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2003)

At the meeting on 26 June 2003 of the Council of Agricultural Ministers in Luxembourg, the Commission engaged itself to submit in autumn 2003 a communication on the reform of the common market organisations for three major Mediterranean products, namely olive oil, tobacco and cotton, and to follow that communication with legal proposals.

As in its July 2002 communication, the Commission intends to provide a long-term policy perspective for these sectors in line with their present budgetary envelope and the new framework for agricultural expenditure agreed at the Brussels European Council in October 2002, based on the objectives and the approach of the reform agreed by the Council of Ministers at that same meeting in Luxembourg.

The Communication to the Council and the Parliament will contain a detailed presentation of the reform proposal and its modalities of application for olive oil, cotton and tobacco. For sugar, there will be a description of the various options and their impact. At the same time, the Commission will also consider the adoption of a proposal for the reform of CMO for hops.

The relevant legal propositions for olive oil, cotton and tobacco will be presented to the Council and the Parliament before the end of November 2003.