EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/615

(2004/C 88 E/0635)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1706/03

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 May 2003)

Subject: Medstat and Medstat II programmes

Since 1996 the Commission has made an amount of EUR 50 million available from the Community budget for the Medstat and Medstat II programmes.

This money was to be used to support and promote the statistical systems of partner countries in the Mediterranean area.

Can the Commission provide a detailed list of the beneficiaries of these funds, showing how much was paid in each individual case?

Can the Commission say who takes the decisions on the allocation of funds under this programme and on the basis of what criteria and procedures the beneficiaries are selected?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2003)

Medstat — Euro-Mediterranean Statistical cooperation — Phase 1: EUR 20 million

Medstat — Euro-Mediterranean Statistical cooperation — Phase 2: EUR 30 million

Medstat Phase 1

The Medstat programme does not concern direct support but provision of technical assistance, transfer of know how, harmonization and exchange of data, etc.

The beneficiaries under the Medstat programme are the National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) of the 12 Mediterranean partner countries. Other beneficiaries are all the Mediterranean institutions which are involved in collecting, compiling and disseminating final statistics and meta data, and which thus comprise — together with the NSIs — what are generally known as the Mediterranean National Statistical Systems (NSSs). The programme is also useful for the main users of statistical data, including governments in connection with the formulation of economic, social and sectoral policies.

The indicative breakdown earmarked in the financing proposal approved by the Commission in July 1996, for direct assistance to the Statistical Systems (first of all the statistical offices) of the Mediterranean partner countries was as follows:

(euros) Regional projects and Tasks forces 6 305 000 Study visits and consultancies 4 320 000 Informatics and infrastructure 3 000 000 Training 2 466 000 Seminars and Working groups 806 000 Management and Steering Committees 622 200 Programme Management 1 800 000 Data bases and diffusion 680 800 Total 20 000 000

A detailed table showing the list of projects, the names of the consultants, and the foreseen amounts and disbursements up to now, as well as the remaining balance (Annex 1) is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

Medstat Phase 2

As for Medstat 2, it provides for the continuation of the actions undertaken as part of Medstat 1, and the project document prepared in 2001, shows indicatively, the following breakdown:

(euros) Med — Training 3 000 000 MED IS (Information System) 2 700 000 MED-Comext (External Trade) 3 000 000 MED-NA (National Accounts) 3 000 000 MED-ENV (Environment) 2 000 000 MED-MIGR (Migration) 2 000 000 MED-TOUR (Tourism) 1 800 000 MED-TRANS (Transport) 1 500 000 MED-AGRI (Agriculture) 2 500 000 MED-SOC (Social statistics) 2 500 000 Provision for potential additional projects 2 000 000 Final evaluation 500 000 Management of the programme 1 000 000 Contingencies 2 500 000 Total 30 000 000

The Directors' Committee brings together at least once a year the Presidents and Directors-General of the statistical services of the Euro-Mediterranean partner countries, including European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, the Directorates General (DG) of External Relations, EuropeAid and Eurostat. Its discussion focuses on the decisions and strategic guidelines to be adopted. Its work also involves a critical report on activities since the previous meeting and guidelines for work in the short and medium term. The so-defined priorities and guidelines provide the input for the management of the programme, and give indications on the necessary means to be allotted. On the basis of this information, the Commission decides on the financing of these actions.

Medstat Phase 1. The financing proposal approved by the Commission in July 1996 stipulated in its Article V, ‘Implementation procedures’, that ‘The regional programme of statistical cooperation will be coordinated by the Commission (Eurostat and DG EuropeAid) in cooperation with national statistical offices of EU Member States. The programme will be implemented by the’ Centre Européen de Statistiques et de Développement (CESD) network.

Medstat Phase 2. For the second phase of the programme, it was decided to see whether, for such a special assignment, competitive bidding can yield results. Consequently, a restricted call for tender has been launched in the second half of 2002. The tender procedure is stiil under process.