WRITTEN QUESTION E-0098/00

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

(26 January 2000)

Subject: Application of the partnership principle in the drawing-up of the 2000-2006 Regional Development Plan for Spain's Objective 1 Autonomous Communities

In October 1999 I tabled a written question to the Commission (P-1798/99) on application of the partnership principle in the drawing-up of the 2000-2006 Regional Development Plan for Spain's Objective 1 Autonomous Communities(1), bearing in mind that the plan, a key document covering the main investments to promote development, job creation, and transport networks, had not been considered by the Galician Parliament.

The Member of the Commission who replied to the question, Mr Michel Barnier, indicated that a final answer would not be given until the text of the plan had been sent to Brussels but stated in any case that, under Articles 15 and 16 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 on the Structural Funds(2), Member States were indeed required to submit their plans to the Commission after consultation with the partners, since the Regulation stipulates that each plan must include an account of arrangements made to consult partners.

Given that the text of the Regional Development Plan is already in the Commission's possession, what steps will the Commission take to ensure compliance with the partnership principle and uphold the powers of the Autonomous Communities, specifically Galicia, bearing in mind that the Spanish central government authorities ignored the Galician Parliament when they drew up the plan, even though it has a decisive bearing on the Autonomous Community's powers and its role as an entity responsible for Spain's economic and social development?

(1) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 51.

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

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2000)

Article 8 of Council Regulation No (EC) 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds(1) states that Community operations are to be drawn up in close consultation (the partnership) between the Commission and the Member State, together with the authorities and bodies designated by the Member State within the framework of its national and current practices, namely: the regional and local authorities and the other competent public authorities, the economic and social partners, any other relevant competent bodies within this framework. The authorities and bodies designated by the Member State are called partners.

With regard to national regional development plans (RDPs), Articles 15 and 16 of this Regulation stipulate respectively that plans shall be submitted by the Member State to the Commission after consultation with the partners and that the plans shall include an account of arrangements made to consult partners.

The RDP for the Objective 1 regions submitted by the Spanish Government on 29 October 1999 includes a chapter on the application of this principle of partnership, which states in particular that the Autonomous Communities were associated from the beginning in the design, development and drafting of the plan and that they had several opportunities of expressing their points of view and making changes to the final draft.

Since, under Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999, it is up to the Member State to designate these partners, the Commission considers that the Spanish Government has satisfied its obligations with regard to compliance with the principle of partnership in preparation of this RDP.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.