WRITTEN QUESTION E-4072/98

by Ralf Walter (PSE) to the Commission

(14 January 1999)

Subject: PHARE-CBC/Interreg

The draft version of a new PHARE-CBC regulation has been in existence for some time. It raises the following questions:

What regional cooperation will qualify? Only that between border areas in EU Member States and EU applicant countries and between border areas in the applicant countries, or also at the European Union's future external borders?

What proportion of the aid has been earmarked for cooperation between border areas of EU Member States and applicant countries and between border areas in the applicant countries? The remarks in the EU budget, unlike the draft regulation, mention a 2/3-1/3 split.

The procedures and financing of Interreg/PHARE-CBC have taken separate paths. There is no sign of any improvement over past years. So far there is only an expression of intent to set up joint cooperation committees and joint cross-border programming.

What specific action is the Commission taking or intending to take here?

How will it be ensured that the Joint Cooperation Committee receives a joint mandate?

Who is drawing up the joint cross-border programme documents?

What is being done to ensure that the Joint Cooperation Committee's project recommendation is implemented by both the PHARE and Interreg decision-making bodies, which will continue in operation?

What will happen if these bodies reach conflicting decisions?

Interreg is a multiannual and PHARE an annual programme. How is this problem to be resolved?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(12 February 1999)

The Commission adopted a new Regulation concerning cross-border co-operation in the framework of Phare on 18 December 1998 (Commission Regulation (EC) 2760/98)(1), which replaces Regulation (EC) 1628/94 of 4 July 1994(2).

According to Article 2.1 of this new Regulation the eligible borders are those between the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the Community, and those between the following applicant countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. However, according to its 11th recital, an extension, in a later stage, to borders with some other neighbouring countries benefiting from Community support programmes may be envisaged.

Of the amount of 180 million euro available under Article B7 502 for 1999, 2/3 will be allocated for borders with the Community, and 1/3 for the other eligible borders, in line with the budgetary comment.

With a view to contributing to genuine cross-border co-operation, Article 7 provides that for each border region, a joint cooperation committee (JCC) will be set up consisting of representatives of the countries concerned and of the Commission. The JCC will prepare a joint programming document, and will define, taking into account this document, a common set of projects once a year.

The final decision-making concerning project selection will be governed by Phare and Interreg rules respectively. In the case of Phare, Article 8 provides that the Commission will formulate a programme proposal per border taking into account the joint programming document and project recommendations of the JCC, and that the grant will be approved following standard Phare procedures.

Although the general annuality principle of the budget prevails, Article 7.2 provides that the joint programming document will be prepared in a multi-annual perspective, which also will contribute to a better alignment between the Phare cross-border co-operation programme and Interreg.

(1) OJ L 345, 19.12.1998.

(2) OJ L 171, 6.7.1994.