WRITTEN QUESTION E-0912/01

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: The Leader programme in St Hubert (Belgium)

The Community has accepted the project submitted by the St Hubert (Belgium) Local Action Group, relating to the Val de Poi, for funding under the Leader programme.

This project is intended to contribute to the harmonious development of the valley and comprises general promotion measures, signposting of walks, making of a video, enhancement of the local heritage, creation of a job agency, and installation of showcases for local produce. It began in December 1999, has been operational since January 2000 and ends in June 2001. The EU's financial participation amounts to BEF 18 million.

On the same site there are plans to build a massive sports complex costing BEF 662 million, an Olympic valley for the training of high-level athletes in shooting, running, cycling and even equestrian events.

This project has been criticised by a number of politicians and associations because of the damage it risks causing to the environment, thus detracting from the valley's attractiveness to tourists. It even seems that subsidies from Leader have been used for studies on this project which infringes the very spirit of the tourist project for which the Leader funds were intended.

Can the Commission:

- confirm that a sports project is not eligible under the Leader programme,

- say whether it is acceptable for projects subsidised under Leader to have a leverage effect on sports projects which damage the environment and detract from the value of the Val de Poix for tourism,

- say whether it might not be advisable to investigate the use of European funds for this project and reclaim sums unduly paid?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 May 2001)

On 15 June 1994 the Commission, under Article 11 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments(1), as amended by Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 of 20 July 1993(2), decided on the Leader II Community Initiative. On 19 June 1997 it approved the Leader II operational programme for the Objective 5(b) zones of the Wallonia Region. The Community assistance approved was 3 318 466.

Leader II is to be implemented as close to the ground as possible, with maximum involvement of local and regional partners. This is why the Commission negotiates, in partnership with each Member State, the content of the programmes drawn up by the regional authorities. Local action groups are then invited to make their rural innovation programme proposals for inclusion in the regional programme adopted. The selection of the LAGs is by a decision-taking partnership at regional level.

Chapter V Implementation of the Notice to Member States(3) for Leader II states that the Commission will no longer participate directly in project and recipient selection. Thus it has no information on the actual LAG projects within any operational programme.

This means that the Leader II Wallonia operational programme in the Commission's possession does not allow it to confirm any financing of the Olympic valley project. Sport-related projects are not automatically ineligible but Annex I to the Notice to Member States states that investments in infrastructure are ineligible except for very small-scale ones to be defined in partnership.

On environmental impact, Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(4), as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of 3 March 1997(5), covers infrastructure projects, including urban development works (Annex II, point 10b).

The Commission will ask the responsible authorities for more information on the Val de Poix project and any links it has with the Olympic valley project. This will be forwarded to the Honourable Member with all speed.

(1) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988.

(2) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(3) OJ C 180, 1.7.1994.

(4) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.

(5) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.