WRITTEN QUESTION P-1974/99

by Theodorus Bouwman (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 October 1999)

Subject: Interreg, URBAN, partnership and sustainable development

The European Commission adopts today (14 October 1999) the Guidelines for the new Community Initiatives Interreg and URBAN. Pillars of this year's reform of the Structural Funds are the principles of partnerships and sustainable development. Two other recent communications from the Commission have similar objectives: the European Spatial Development Perspective, which was also discussed at the informal meeting of the EU ministries on urban and regional planning held in Tampere, on 4-5 October 1999, and the Framework for Action on Sustainable URBAN Development. Parliament's resolutions on the two Commission's communications request the Commission to give an appropriate follow-up to its two strategic documents(1).

Can the Commission explain how it intends to make sure that the broadest range of national, local and regional partners, including local authorities and NGOs, can take part in the conception, implementation and follow-up of the projects financed under Interreg and URBAN?

Will partnership be playing a selective role in the choice of the projects?

How will the Commission make sure that the philosophy of the European spatial Development Perspective and the Framework for Action on Sustainable URBAN Development as well as the recommendations of the European Parliament on these two communications, will be respectively shaping structural interventions financed under Interreg and those under URBAN?

In particular, will sustainable regional and local car-free transport schemes and ecological urban renewal will be considered priority areas to be supported?

(1) See EP reports by Mr Novo Belenguer (A4-0206/98, resolution adopted on 2 July 1998) OJ C 226, 20.7.1998, p. 42 and by Mr Orlando (A4-0247/1999, resolution adopted on 4 May 1999).

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 1999)

The adoption on 13 October 1999 by the Commission of the draft guidelines for the Interreg and URBAN Community initiatives(1) constituted the first step in the overall approval process for these two initiatives. In line with the code of conduct on the implementation by the Commission of structural policies, the Commission will ensure that the opinions of the Parliament are taken into consideration before the final adoption of the guidelines.

As indicated in paragraph 7 of the draft Interreg guidelines and paragraph 9 of the draft URBAN guidelines, the Commission will ensure that strong partnership will be one of the governing principles of both Community initiatives in the next programming period.

The Commission considers that the European spatial development perspective and the framework for action on sustainable URBAN development should inform in the preparation of Interreg and URBAN programmes respectively. This is clearly stated in paragraph 14 of the draft Interreg guidelines and paragraph 6 of the draft URBAN guidelines.

In accordance with the principle of subsidiarity, the types of measures and projects to be supported are for the local partnership to decide. However, in the indicative list of eligible measures set out in Annex 1 of the draft URBAN guidelines, there is specific mention of the creation of car-free areas and urban renewal activities.

(1) COM(1999) 479 final and COM(1999) 477 final.