ddrg/super_eurlex huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0062/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(22 January 2003)

Subject: Visit to Galicia by the Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, in order to assess at first hand the effects of the Prestige disaster

Is the Commission President, Mr Romano Prodi, thinking of visiting Galicia and the other affected areas in order to experience at first hand the effects of the accident involving the Prestige? Why has he not been to Galicia in the same way as he went to Central Europe when disastrous flooding occurred last summer? Was he invited to go to Galicia at the time of the accident by the President of the Galician Regional Government, Manuel Fraga, or by the Spanish Prime Minister, José Maria Aznar?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(5 March 2003)

The President of the Commission has followed very closely and attentively the damage caused by the sinking of the Prestige even though he did not go to Galicia. He has continually shown personal commitment to the consequences of the Prestige disaster and to preventive measures in similar situations, in an endeavour to find positive solutions.

Furthermore, in accordance with the mandate conferred upon it by the Copenhagen European Council (point 34 of its conclusions), the Commission has already taken urgent measures which were submitted to the Heads of State or Government, and other measures will be carried out in the short and medium term in an attempt to prevent or alleviate the consequences of disasters like those which have affected the Galician coastline.

Between now and June 2003, the Commission will review current legislative and policy instruments, mainly concerning the environment but also in the fields of health, research, fisheries and regional development, in order to determine whether they need to be adapted to minimise the risk of recurrence of such accidents and the immediate and longer-term damage they cause.

The Commission would stress once again its determination to continue playing its part in mobilising the Union to do all it can to combat the effects of the Prestige disaster and to put in place a coherent and comprehensive Union policy regarding the prevention aspects of maritime safety.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0357/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(12 February 2003)

Subject: Travellers

1. Is the Commission aware of the implications of recent legislative change, particularly in Ireland, that have caused an increase in traveller communities in neighbouring Member States?

2. Will the Commission describe these changes and also state whether they may potentially infringe any Treaty provisions including the Copenhagen criteria and those on the right of establishment and freedom of movement?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2003)

1. According to the Commission's information, the recent legislative change adopted in Ireland consists in the insertion into the Housing Bill of a clause that has the effect of amending the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, in such a way as to make trespass a matter for the criminal, as opposed to the civil, courts. This amendment will mean that a landowner, believing himself to have been trespassed upon, will be able to seek the assistance of the police, rather that fight his case alone through the civil courts.

The law will apply to people who seek to live temporarily on land that is not their own and therefore to travellers if they incur in such behaviour. With the force of criminal sanction, the police will be able to order persons trespassing to move on.

However, the Commission is not aware that this legislation has caused an increase in traveller communities in neighbouring Member States.

2. The Commission considers, on the basis of the information it has, that the above mentioned legislation does not infringe any Treaty provisions including those relating to freedom of establishment and freedom of movement.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0670/03

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 March 2003)

Subject: Tolls on the Attica motorway

The tolls fixed by the company contracted to build and operate the Attica motorway into Athens have met with a justified public outcry from road-users who will have to pay a high, flat-rate amount irrespective of the length of their journey. Setting the tolls in this manner effectively bars residents from using the motorway for local journeys.

The agreement signed between the Greek Government and the contracting consortium states (Article 50.1.3) that it is open to the contractor to raise or lower the tolls according to the category of vehicle at the various toll booths along the motorway, while Directive 93/89/EEC(1) defines tolls as payment of a specified amount for a vehicle travelling the distance between two points on the infrastructure and states that the amount shall be based on the distance travelled and on the category of the vehicle. Will the Commission, therefore, make representations to the Greek authorities and the contractor to persuade them to use a cheaper and more flexible system of toll pricing in order to fulfil the purpose of the Attica motorway a project jointly funded by the EU which is to serve the needs of road-users?

(1) OJ L 279, 12.11.1993, p. 32.

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(10 April 2003)

Directive 1999/62/EC(1) is the Community legal instrument for the levying of taxes, tolls and user charges on lorries above 12 tonnes. It is to be underlined that Member States levying tolls on vehicles below 12 tonnes do not have to comply with the provisions contained in Directive 1999/62/EC as such tolls fall outside its scope.

Within the scope of the Directive that has replaced Council Directive 93/89/EEC of 25 October 1993 on the application by Member States of taxes on certain vehicles used for the carriage of goods by road and tolls and charges for the use of certain infrastructures, the principles of tolls have not changed. As the Honourable Member has pointed out they are defined as payment of a specified amount for a vehicle travelling the distance between two points on the infrastructure where the amount shall be based on the distance travelled and on the type of the vehicle. Therefore, it is clear that a flat rate irrespective of the distance travelled raises some issues from the point of view of Community legislation that need to be addressed.

The Commission will contact the Greek Authorities in order to clarify this point.

(1) Directive 1999/62/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 1999 on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructure, OJ L 187, 20.7.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0462/03

by Kyösti Virrankoski (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 February 2003)

Subject: Action C-240/00 brought by the Commission against Finland before the Court of Justice

On 15 June 2000 the Commission brought an action (Case C-240/00) against Finland before the Court of Justice for failure to fulfil obligations under Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds and their habitats(1). The Advocate-General put forward his proposed solution on 25 April 2002, but there is still no word of a final decision.

1. What is delaying the final judgment in the case?

2. What steps will the Commission take to enable a decision to be reached as quickly as possible?

3. Has Finland supplied the explanations that the Commission requested, among other things regarding the complete list of special protection areas and the necessary geographical information?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2003)

1. The judgement of the European Court of Justice in Case C-240/00 Commission against Finland was delivered on 6 March 2003. The Court found that Finland has, by failing to classify fully and definitively the special protection areas (SPAs) in its territory, failed to fulfil its obligations under Article 4(1) and (2) of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds.

2. The Commission will take the necessary measures to ensure that Finland complies with the above judgement.

3. The list of SPAs that Finland has submitted is not yet final nor complete, as it lacks several territories most suitable for designation as SPAs on the basis of ornithological criteria. This prevents the Commission from taking the appropriate measures in accordance with Article 4(3) of Directive 79/409/EEC, for the purpose of the co-ordination necessary to ensure that SPAs form a coherent whole.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1102/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(31 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the action programme to promote civil protection by the municipality of Siena

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 Siena, urgently need to use European funds for the civil protection of persons and goods, whether by preventing, or at least dealing with, potential natural disasters or even so-called technological and industrial disasters, can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Siena has submitted projects for the action programme to support civil protection?

2. whether the municipality of Siena has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0829/03, E-0889/03, E-1091/03, E-1092/03,E-1093/03, E-1094/03, E-1095/03, E-1096/03, E-1097/03, E-1098/03,E-1099/03, E-1100/03, E-1101/03, E-1102/03 and E-1103/03given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(22 April 2003)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that, over the last two years, the municipalities of Frosinone, Fiumicino, Ancona, Carrara, Livorno, Florence, Macerata, Massa, Perugia, Pesaro, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena and Terni have submitted no projects for the Community action programme in the field of civil protection established by Council Decision 1999/847/EC of 9 December 1999(1) and that, accordingly, they have received no financial aid in that context.

The action programme is intended to support and supplement Member States' efforts at national, regional and local levels to protect persons, property and the environment in the event of natural and technological disasters. With an annual budget of EUR 1,5 million (budget heading B4-308), the programme is able to finance action relating to prevention, preparedness, response, immediate aftercare and analysis of the socio-economic implications of disasters. Only action involving all the Member States or a large number of them is eligible. Eligible action has to be in line with the priorities determined each year by the Commission with the assistance of a management committee.

The Commission can also inform the Honourable Member that a whole series of examples of projects carried out through the Community action programme in the field of civil protection can be found at the following Internet address: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/environment/civil/

(1) OJ L 327, 21.12.1999.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0973/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(26 March 2003)

Subject: Utilisation of SAVE II and Altener II funds by the municipality of Terni

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian ministry of the economy presented its statement on the expenditure of funding made available by the European Union.

Its research showed that some local authorities were worryingly slow and inefficient in awarding projects.

The European Commission has also emphasised concern on various occasions at the under-utilisation of European funding by local authorities.

Considering that, in particular, some local municipalities such as Terni are in great need of European funding to limit carbon dioxide emissions, improve air quality and combat pollution, can the Commission indicate:

1. whether the municipality of Terni has submitted any projects under the SAVE II or Altener II programmes;

2. whether the municipality of Terni has received funding for those projects;

3. whether that funding has been utilised?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0961/03, E-0962/03, E-0963/03,E-0964/03, E-0965/03, E-0966/03, E-0967/03, E-0968/03,E-0969/03, E-0970/03, E-0971/03, E-0972/03 and E-0973/03given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2003)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that for the Communes which are referred to in the questions: Ancona, Carrara, Firenze, Livorno, Macerata, Massa, Perugia, Pesaro, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena and Terni, one SAVE II project receives Community Support, while one submitted Altener II proposal was not selected for support.

1. The city of Pistoia has submitted one proposal for the Altener II programme in the Calls for proposals 2001. This proposal Resred did not succeed and was not granted support.

2. The city of Perugia has submitted one proposal for the SAVE programme in the Calls for proposals 2002. This proposal Awereness Programme for Policy Makers in Energy Efficiency Low Income Housing (APPEEL) was selected for support.

The budget for APPEEL will be spent during 2003 and 2004.

The contracting part will be: city of Perugia.

The City of Perugia participates as one of in all six contractors in this successfully evaluated proposal APPEEL. The contract number will be 4.1031/Z/02-025 The total budget for the contract is EUR 484 406 and the total Community support is EUR 242 203. The city of Perugia's share of the budget is EUR 42 000 and the Community support for the city of Perugia is EUR 21 000. The contract is currently being prepared.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1073/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(31 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the Leonardo da Vinci programme by the municipality of Siena

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 Siena, urgently need to use European funds to enhance quality, promote innovation and support the European dimension of vocational training systems and practices, can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Siena has submitted projects for the Leonardo da Vinci programme?

2. whether the municipality of Siena has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0833/03, E-0890/03, E-1062/03, E-1063/03,E-1064/03, E-1065/03, E-1066/03, E-1067/03, E-1068/03, E-1069/03,E-1070/03, E-1071/03, E-1072/03, E-1073/03 and E-1074/03given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Some of the funds awarded under the Leonardo da Vinci programme are managed decentrally by national agencies, in particular the transnational mobility projects, whose total budget takes up almost 40 % of the total for the programme.

For these projects, please contact the national agency in Italy for further information:

ISFOLVia G.B. Morgagni 30/eI-00161 Romatel. (+39-06)44.59.01fax (+39-06)44.59.04.75.

With regard to the funds managed centrally by the Commission (pilot projects, thematic actions, language skills, transnational networks, reference tools), the search check for the municipalities of Frosinone, Fiumincino, Ancona, Carrara, Florence, Livorno, Macerata, Massa, Perugia, Pesaro, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena and Terni showed that:

- only Pesaro has submitted a proposal for a pilot project under the Leonardo programme. This project is entitled: Laboratori Tematici Virtuali: Metodologia di Supporto alla Formazione Nel Sel (Sistema Economico Locale) (virtual thematic workshops: methodology for fostering training in local economies);

- it obtained funding of EUR 264 161 for this project, which began at the end of 2002.

The Honourable Member could contact the local authorities mentioned above for more information.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-0962/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(26 March 2003)

Subject: Utilisation of SAVE II and Altener II funds by the municipality of Carrara

In September 2002, the monitoring committee of the Italian ministry of the economy presented its statement on the expenditure of funding made available by the European Union.

Its research showed that some local authorities were worryingly slow and inefficient in awarding projects.

The European Commission has also emphasised concern on various occasions at the under-utilisation of European funding by local authorities.

Considering that, in particular, some local municipalities such as Carrara are in great need of European funding to limit carbon dioxide emissions, improve air quality and combat pollution, can the Commission indicate:

1. whether the municipality of Carrara has submitted any projects under the SAVE II or Altener II programmes;

2. whether the municipality of Carrara has received funding for those projects;

3. whether that funding has been utilised?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0961/03, E-0962/03, E-0963/03,E-0964/03, E-0965/03, E-0966/03, E-0967/03, E-0968/03,E-0969/03, E-0970/03, E-0971/03, E-0972/03 and E-0973/03given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2003)

The Commission informs the Honourable Member that for the Communes which are referred to in the questions: Ancona, Carrara, Firenze, Livorno, Macerata, Massa, Perugia, Pesaro, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena and Terni, one SAVE II project receives Community Support, while one submitted Altener II proposal was not selected for support.

1. The city of Pistoia has submitted one proposal for the Altener II programme in the Calls for proposals 2001. This proposal Resred did not succeed and was not granted support.

2. The city of Perugia has submitted one proposal for the SAVE programme in the Calls for proposals 2002. This proposal Awereness Programme for Policy Makers in Energy Efficiency Low Income Housing (APPEEL) was selected for support.

The budget for APPEEL will be spent during 2003 and 2004.

The contracting part will be: city of Perugia.

The City of Perugia participates as one of in all six contractors in this successfully evaluated proposal APPEEL. The contract number will be 4.1031/Z/02-025 The total budget for the contract is EUR 484 406 and the total Community support is EUR 242 203. The city of Perugia's share of the budget is EUR 42 000 and the Community support for the city of Perugia is EUR 21 000. The contract is currently being prepared.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1071/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(31 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the Leonardo da Vinci programme by the municipality of Pistoia

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 Pistoia, urgently need to use European funds to enhance quality, promote innovation and support the European dimension of vocational training systems and practices, can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Pistoia has submitted projects for the Leonardo da Vinci programme?

2. whether the municipality of Pistoia has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0833/03, E-0890/03, E-1062/03, E-1063/03,E-1064/03, E-1065/03, E-1066/03, E-1067/03, E-1068/03, E-1069/03,E-1070/03, E-1071/03, E-1072/03, E-1073/03 and E-1074/03given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Some of the funds awarded under the Leonardo da Vinci programme are managed decentrally by national agencies, in particular the transnational mobility projects, whose total budget takes up almost 40 % of the total for the programme.

For these projects, please contact the national agency in Italy for further information:

ISFOLVia G.B. Morgagni 30/eI-00161 Romatel. (+39-06)44.59.01fax (+39-06)44.59.04.75.

With regard to the funds managed centrally by the Commission (pilot projects, thematic actions, language skills, transnational networks, reference tools), the search check for the municipalities of Frosinone, Fiumincino, Ancona, Carrara, Florence, Livorno, Macerata, Massa, Perugia, Pesaro, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena and Terni showed that:

- only Pesaro has submitted a proposal for a pilot project under the Leonardo programme. This project is entitled: Laboratori Tematici Virtuali: Metodologia di Supporto alla Formazione Nel Sel (Sistema Economico Locale) (virtual thematic workshops: methodology for fostering training in local economies);

- it obtained funding of EUR 264 161 for this project, which began at the end of 2002.

The Honourable Member could contact the local authorities mentioned above for more information.
WRITTEN QUESTION E-1074/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(31 March 2003)

Subject: Use of funds from the Leonardo da Vinci programme by the municipality of Terni

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 Terni, urgently need to use European funds to enhance quality, promote innovation and support the European dimension of vocational training systems and practices, can the Commission state:

1. whether the municipality of Terni has submitted projects for the Leonardo da Vinci programme?

2. whether the municipality of Terni has secured funding for these projects?

3. whether this funding has been used?

Joint answerto Written Questions E-0833/03, E-0890/03, E-1062/03, E-1063/03,E-1064/03, E-1065/03, E-1066/03, E-1067/03, E-1068/03, E-1069/03,E-1070/03, E-1071/03, E-1072/03, E-1073/03 and E-1074/03given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

Some of the funds awarded under the Leonardo da Vinci programme are managed decentrally by national agencies, in particular the transnational mobility projects, whose total budget takes up almost 40 % of the total for the programme.

For these projects, please contact the national agency in Italy for further information:

ISFOLVia G.B. Morgagni 30/eI-00161 Romatel. (+39-06)44.59.01fax (+39-06)44.59.04.75.

With regard to the funds managed centrally by the Commission (pilot projects, thematic actions, language skills, transnational networks, reference tools), the search check for the municipalities of Frosinone, Fiumincino, Ancona, Carrara, Florence, Livorno, Macerata, Massa, Perugia, Pesaro, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena and Terni showed that:

- only Pesaro has submitted a proposal for a pilot project under the Leonardo programme. This project is entitled: Laboratori Tematici Virtuali: Metodologia di Supporto alla Formazione Nel Sel (Sistema Economico Locale) (virtual thematic workshops: methodology for fostering training in local economies);

- it obtained funding of EUR 264 161 for this project, which began at the end of 2002.

The Honourable Member could contact the local authorities mentioned above for more information.