WRITTEN QUESTION E-1817/00

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Subject: Corrigenda to calls for proposals relating to the Interprise programme

Two corrigenda to calls for proposals relating to the Interprise programme were published in the Official Journal of the European Communities(1). The first corrigendum refers to the call for proposals(2), two points of which are amended. Firstly, the period for the execution of an Interprise project proposal is halved from 12 months in the original version to 6 months, and the number of deadlines originally envisaged for the submission of proposals is reduced from four to two, the deadlines 30 June 2000 and 30 September 2000 being cancelled.

The second corrigendum then completely cancels the call for proposals(3) to which it refers concerning the organisation of Interprise events to be held in nine associated countries.

Can the Commission say:

- why it amended and then cancelled the calls for proposals;

- whether it does not consider that these corrigenda made shortly before the envisaged deadlines (already set in the Official Journal in 1999) adversely affected any organisations which were about to organise or may already have organised events linked to the Interprise programme;

- whether and how it intends to re-issue the calls for proposals relating to the aforementioned programme?

(1) OJ C 134, 13.5.2000, p. 18.

(2) OJ C 307, 26.10.1999.

(3) OJ C 69 of 10.3.2000.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 2000)

The two corrigenda published(1) are in line with the new shift in Commission policy towards the analysis and the drawing up of proposals of a political nature and a reduction in the direct management of projects in the field. In order to concentrate more on its new tasks, such as benchmarking to help identify good practice regarding enterprise policy, encouraging the spirit of enterprise, developing an environment suited to innovation and guaranteeing access to the markets for products and services, the Commission has decided to limit certain actions directly managed by its departments, including the Interprise programmes and the International Buyers Exhibitions (IBEX). This does not call into question their merit(2).

In order not to prejudice the interests of tenderers who had already submitted a project, the Commission left in force the first two deadlines of the call published(3). Projects submitted by these two deadlines have been assessed. Some of them have already received the Commission's support.

For the call for proposals published(4) concerning the organisation of an Interprise event in each of the associated countries, the corrigendum was published shortly before the deadline. Although some of the potential tenderers may have invested time in preparing proposals, none of them had begun the organisational work without the favourable opinion of the Commission. Those which had submitted a proposal were informed by letter of the cancellation of the call for proposals.

Direct administrative and financial management by the Commission of the Interprise programme has stopped. No extension of the deadlines is planned at present. However, the Commission is willing to examine with the Member States how to ensure that a programme of this kind can continue without direct management by the Commission.

(1) OJ C 134, 13.5.2000.

(2) Commission Communication of 26 April 2000, Challenges for enterprise policy in the knowledge-driven economy, COM(2000) 256 final.

(3) OJ C 307, 26.10.1999.

(4) OJ C 69, 10.3.2000.