WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1808/97 by Gary TITLEY to the Commission. MEDA democracy programme
Date: 1997-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, TITLEY
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, civil rights, democracy, eligibility criteria, human rights, political rights, rule of law

10. 2. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 45/105

(98/C 45/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1802/97

by Robert Evans (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 1997)

Subject: EU pollution regulations and wood shredding

What European Union regulations or encouragement is in place for firms to reduce or cease wood burning and
shred wood instead?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 1997)

No such regulations are known to the Commission.

Wood burning is an important source of energy for the European forest industries and others. Wood burning in
controlled  combustion  plants  contributes  to  the  efficient  use  of  raw  materials,  results  in  relatively  clean
emissions and decreases use of other energy sources, notably of fossil fuels.

Therefore it would not be sound environmental policy to encourage firms to reduce or to cease wood burning.

(98/C 45/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1808/97

by Gary Titley (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 1997)

Subject: MEDA democracy programme

Can  the  Commission  outline  its  selection  criteria  for  deciding  which  projects  to  support  under  the  MEDA
democracy programme?

Answer given by Mr Mar(cid:14)·n on behalf of the Commission

(24 June 1997)

Drawing on earlier experience with democracy programmes, the Commission has produced and circulated to
interested parties a brochure setting out guidelines for implementation of the MEDA programme and explaining
the criteria that projects should meet to qualify for support. The selection criteria are broadly as follows.

›  Recipients:

The  programme  provides  backing  for  human  rights  and  democracy  in  those  countries  which,  with  the
European Union, have signed the Barcelona Declaration: Algeria, Morocco, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan,
Lebanon, Malta, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority. Both local and regional projects are
eligible for support.

›  Possible areas of operation:

The  programme  addresses  political  rights;  this  covers  the  democratic  process  (election  arrangements,
information centres, publicity campaigns, training, opinion polling) and the rule of law (institutional reform,
training of officials, prison reform, human rights organizations, accountability in public administration).

It also covers certain civil rights, including freedom of speech (independent media, codes of ethics, facilities
for journalists), freedom of assembly (group contacts between political parties, support for civil society in
general), freedom of religious observance and freedom of movement.

Under the heading of socio-economic rights, support is available for trade unions and training activities.

Target groups eligible for protection include women (with reference in particular to women’s integration into
political  and  economic  life  and  awareness  programmes),  children,  minorities,  refugees  and  displaced
persons, torture victims and prisoners.