WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1623/96 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. Selection of experts - committee to evaluate Article 10 applications
Date: 1996-06-24
Institutions: European Parliament, HOWITT
Subjects: European Commission, European Regional Development Fund, professional qualifications, project evaluation, recruitment, regional development, regional policy, self-employed person













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91996E1623

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1623/96 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. Selection of experts - committee to evaluate Article 10 applications  


Official Journal C 385 , 19/12/1996 P. 0019 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1623/96 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (24 June 1996)Subject: Selection of experts - committee to evaluate Article 10 applicationsCan the Commission identify who has been selected to undertake the evaluation of applications for Article 10 projects and briefly summarize the main qualifications and experience of each person in relation to the task.How far has each expert direct personal experience of the workings of regional and local government?What policy guidelines have been given to the committee to guide its work and are these available to the European Parliament?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (24 September 1996)As stipulated in its guidelines for the implementation of Article 10 of amended Regulation (EEC) No 4254/88, ((OJ L 193, 31.7.1993. )) the Commission has made every endeavour to select a group of experts which meet the established criteria on independence and professionalism to help it assess the response to the call for proposals. With regard to the first four calls for proposals for the innovative schemes subprogramme, the 90 or so people selected are engaged in work of a practical or academic nature in the regional development field. Furthermore, each committee of experts has specialist knowledge in the area concerned (innovation, information society, new employment opportunities and cultural heritage).As far as supervision of the work of these committees is concerned, the Commission has made arrangements for each proposal to be assessed by at least two experts, with the final decision resting in its own hands. It has also published guidelines for assessing the proposals in each of the areas concerned, clarifying the implementation of the selection criteria laid down in the calls for proposals and in the information files. Given the high ratio of proposals received (900 in the area of innovative action alone) to funding available (sufficient for some 130 projects), these criteria have been strictly applied. At any rate, the new approach to Article 10 now includes specific requirements regarding the demonstrative character and replicability of the projects. The quality of the partnership, the innovative character of the projects and the opportunity to combine them with traditional European Regional Development Fund activities have been paid particular attention in this context.Similar guidelines will apply to the selection of experts for the other areas covered by Article 10.The list of experts and the guidelines for the selection of projects were drafted in accordance with internal Commission procedures. They may not, therefore, be distributed externally lest they call into question the objectivity and independence of the selection process, by which Parliament sets particular store.