WRITTEN QUESTION E-1830/97 by Carlos Carnero González (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (28 May 1997)

Subject: Implementation of URBAN in Toledo (Spain)

Toledo is one of the Spanish cities which have benefited from the first phase of the URBAN programme (1994-99). The Commission is well aware of the significant role played by Parliament in the creation of this community initiative programme, which addresses the specific problems of urban areas in the European Union. It is therefore natural that Parliament should concern itself with the consolidation of such initiatives and ensure that they are implemented in line with Community legislation.

It has recently come to my notice that a coordinating committee has been set up in the city of Toledo in support of the URBAN programme, and that it has expressed some criticism regarding the city council's implementation of the programme. The committee comprises the collectives involved in drawing up and submitting the project, which now find not only that the objectives for which they were established have not been achieved but also that they have been relegated to monitoring the programme's implementation.

Is the Commission aware of the existence of this coordinating committee and its criticism of the programme's implementation? If so, what are its views on this criticism? Will it seek the opinions of the national and local government and the coordinating committee on this subject?

Can the Commission say whether the publication of an information bulletin on URBAN, to which PTA 21 million have been allocated and from which the neighbourhood groups involved in the programme's implementation have been excluded, represents one of the measures eligible for subsidy?

Finally, can the Commission clarify the role of the social and economic partners in the various phases of the programme's implementation, and can it say whether the ban on the participation of certain groups might represent a breach of the provisions of Regulation No 2081/93 ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 5. )) on the structural funds?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (7 July 1997)

The Commission is unaware of the existence of a coordinating committee in support of the Urban programme in Toledo or of its criticisms of the programme's implementation. It will contact the Spanish authorities for their opinion and any comments they may have. The Commission cannot, however, submit an accurate request without knowing the subject of the criticisms and the name of the committee or of the responsible persons.

As regards the publication of an information bulletin on Urban, the Commission would like to point out that at the time a measure is approved only the main areas of assistance are included in the programme. The content of these areas, taking the form of a set of measures, is established at a later date, within the framework of subsidiarity, by the authorities responsible for the implementation of the programme. The Commission is informed and consulted during monitoring committee meetings. At the last such meeting, which took place in January 1997, the Spanish authorities pointed out that a measure relating to the adoption of information and publicity activities was undergoing analysis and consultation with the social and economic partners in the district. No expenditure had been charged to that measure.

The role of the economic and social partners in the development and implementation of programmes is taken into account under Article 4 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness and on coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments as amended ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993. )) and in paragraph 3 of item 20 of the Commission communication to the Member States laying down guidelines for the Urban Community initiative. The Regulation lays down that it is the task of the Member States, within the framework of the institutional rules and practices specific to each Member State, to designate the competent bodies.