WRITTEN QUESTION No. 673/97 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Commission. European funds for the Abruzzi
Date: 1997-02-26
Institutions: CACCAVALE, European Parliament
Subjects: Abruzzi, EAGGF, EU aid, European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, State aid, aid system, development aid, regional aid













EUR-Lex - 91997E0673 - EN






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91997E0673

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 673/97 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Commission. European funds for the Abruzzi  


Official Journal C 367 , 04/12/1997 P. 0037 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-0673/97 by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission (26 February 1997)Subject: European funds for the AbruzziThe Abruzzi Region was classified by the European Union for the 1994-1996 period as a region lagging behind in its development (Objective 1).At present the Commission seems to intend to give the Abruzzi Region a two-year extension to enable it to spend the unspent funds still at the disposal of the regional spending authorities in the Abruzzi; this extension, however, does not appear to mean that the Abruzzi will continue to be classified as an Objective 1 region.Can the Commission state whether the Abruzzi will continue to be able to benefit from Community funds and if so, which?Can the Commission state whether any state aid to the Abruzzi Region within the meaning of Article 92 (2)c will be regarded as compatible with the common market, given that the Abruzzi Region does not appear to be included among the so-called regions lagging behind in their development?Can the Commission give prior authorization to the Italian Government to grant the Abruzzi Region national aids such as those provided under Laws 488/92, 341/95 and 44/86?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (20 March 1997)Article 8(1) of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 of 24 June 1988 on the tasks of the Structural Funds and their effectiveness and on coordination of their activities between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial institutions, as amended ((OJ L 193, 31. 7.1993. )), lays down that Abruzzi's eligibility under Objective 1 would end on 31 December 1996.The Italian authorities have asked for a two-year extension of the time limits for national commitments and payments on Objective 1 structural assistance in Abruzzi for the period 1994-96. This does not mean that the region's eligibility for Objective 1 is similarly extended; it simply allows Italy to complete implementation of the 1994-96 programmes.The Commission has just approved the extensions in question, thereby allowing Abruzzi to implement commitments until the end of 1998 under the regional and multiregional programmes in the 1994-96 Objective 1 Community Support Framework for Italy which are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance. The extensions apply only to Community commitments adopted on or before 31 December 1996 for each type of assistance.In the case of the European Social Fund, Community funding has already been allocated to Abruzzi for Objectives 3 and 4 for 1997-99.On the issue of aid schemes, the Commission is studying with the Italian authorities the new map of the areas falling within the scope of Article 92(3)(c) of the Treaty for the 1997-99 period.