WRITTEN QUESTION E-3124/00

by Patricia McKenna (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 October 2000)

Subject: URBAN II

The Guidelines for URBAN II were published last May and the Irish Government must submit proposals for approval to the Commission by 19 November 2000. However, it has emerged that the government has decided to alter the tendering and selection process of projects eligible for funding, in particular without consulting with the local authorities and partners. GBP 3,9 million has been allocated to Ireland under URBAN II, down from GBP 16,6 million that Ireland received under URBAN I and the Commission's URBAN II guidelines provide for one project in Ireland.

Under URBAN I, the Irish Government requested the involvement of local authorities, the County Enterprise Boards and the Area Partnership Companies and invited submissions for funding. However, the Irish authorities have now indicated that they will not accept any bids from the eligible local authorities and existing development structures but through their own consultation and selection procedure, they will submit their own bid for an Irish Programme to the European Commission.

Does the Commission believe that this altered procedure is in breach of the URBAN II guidelines? Is the Commission of the view that the absence of a proper tendering process will threaten the proper implementation of URBAN II in Ireland? What does the Commission intend to do to solve these problems?

Does the Commission not believe that this procedure would breach the principles of partnership as stated by the new general regulations on the Structural Funds (Council Regulation 1260/1999(1) laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2000)

Ireland is eligible for a total of 5 million (1999 prices) to be allocated to one operational programme under the URBAN II Community initiative during the period 2000-2006. In principle an area is eligible if it respects at least three of the nine criteria mentioned in the URBAN II guidelines(1) whereby development strategies shall be selected on the basis of their quality, innovation and demonstrable ability.

According to Article 8 paragraph 1 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999, laying down general provisions on the structural funds(2), Community actions shall be drawn up in close consultation between the Commission and the Member State, together with the authorities and bodies designated by the Member State within the framework of its national rules and current practices.

The selection procedure of eligible areas is a responsibility decentralised to the Member State. The principles of partnership mentioned in the general regulations do not so much refer to this national selection process as to the preparatory phase of an URBAN II programme, once the city has been designated. Any modification of the national tendering and selection procedure by the Irish government would therefore not constitute a breach of the general regulations on the structural funds. The Commission will, however, insist that local partnerships are involved in the preparation and implementation of the operational programmes.

(1) OJ C 141, 19.5.2000.

(2) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.