WRITTEN QUESTION E-4025/98

by Paul Rübig (PPE) to the Commission

(8 January 1999)

Subject: Cross-border PHARE cooperation programmes

The PHARE programmes run from 1995 to 1999 and they have an indicative financial framework. They include the cross-border cooperation programme on the basis of which declarations of intent on cross-border cooperation between Austria and its neighbours have been signed. By virtue of these programmes both sides have developed an institutional framework for closer cross-border cooperation - and in many cases joint projects - which receive aid under both Interreg and PHARE.

At the last meeting of the Joint Programme and Management Committee a new political approach was announced which involves a shift of 30 % of the appropriations to other borders for the last programme in 1999. Numerous projects which have already been drawn up by cross-border bodies and bodies in border areas and which have played a major role in securing popular support for EU programmes have now had to be stopped. Further meetings for the requisite changes would lead to additional administrative expenditure.

1. How can this abrupt change to the financial tables be reconciled with the agreements that have already been signed under the Interreg programmes and the reciprocal declarations of intent?

2. What are the conditions (joint committees, declarations of intent) for developing cross-border programmes in order to shift appropriations towards PHARE frontier programmes?

3. What other scope is there for financing the programmes in question between PHARE countries (funding from the national PHARE budget and multi-country programmes)?

4. What is the Commission's view of the fact that because of the administrative and, in some cases, political problems some PHARE countries no longer believe such programmes can be implemented promptly?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 1999)

Commission Regulation (EC) 2760/98 concerning cross-border co-operation in the framework of Phare(1) adopted on 18 December 1998 provides for the geographical extension of the programme. Besides borders between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Community, those between applicant countries also become eligible. While no breakdown of funds between either category of borders has been foreseen in the new regulation, the budgetary comment for 1999 related to Article B7-502 provides that the 180 millions euro for that year shall be allocated on the basis of two thirds for the borders between applicant countries and the Community, and one third for the other border regions. Consequently, border regions adjacent to the Community will receive less funds than originally envisaged under the 1995-1999 Phare multi-annual indicative programmes, which, contrary to operational programmes under Interreg, are indicative in nature.

With a view to better aligning the Phare cross-border co-operation programme and Interreg, the above mentioned new regulation provides in its Article 7 that for each of the border regions, a joint cooperation committee will be set up consisting of representatives of the countries concerned and of the Commission, which will prepare a joint programming document in a multi-annual perspective, as well as a common set of projects once a year. This provision also applies to the new eligible borders between applicant countries, in order to prepare them for their future involvement in Interreg. Now that the new regulation has been adopted, after a positive opinion of the Phare management committee and in line with the Parliament's budgetary comment, no other Phare national or multi-country programmes are envisaged for supporting cross-border co-operation between applicant countries. Preparations for setting up joint cooperation committees and preparing programming documents will start in the near future.

(1) OJ L 345, 19.12.1998.