WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2057/97 by Nikitas KAKLAMANIS to the Commission. Aid for the textiles, clothing and leather sectors
Date: 1997-06-16
Institutions: European Parliament, KAKLAMANIS
Subjects: France, State aid, aid to industry, clothing industry, employment aid, leather industry, production aid, social-security contribution, textile industry, wage cost

C 45/150

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

10. 2. 98

(98/C 45/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2051/97

by Eryl McNally (PSE) to the Commission

(16 June 1997)

Subject: The 4th Framework Programme-Research

In which of the specific programmes are experiments on animals funded?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission

(14 July 1997)

Under  the  fourth  framework  programme  the  specific  programmes  using  animals  for  experiments  are
Biotechnology, Biomedecine & health, Agriculture & fisheries (FAIR), Environment and climate (not in MAST),
Industrial and materials technologies (IMT), Standards, measurements and testing (SMI), Radioprotection and
cooperation with third countries and international organisations.

These experiments are made with objectives such as the protection of human health, the reduction of risks from
chemicals, but also improved animal welfare or the reduction of the use of animals in testing. These experiments
are legally prescribed when no alternative methods, such as in vitro tests, are available. In every project it is
ensured that only the minimum number of animals are used.

The Commission remains committed to reducing the use of animals in research and to encouraging the use of
alternative methods as soon as this is feasible. The support of the European centre for the validation of alternative
methods (ECVAM) is significant evidence of the Commission(cid:146)s wishes on this important topic.

(98/C 45/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2057/97

by Nikitas Kaklamanis (UPE) to the Commission

(16 June 1997)

Subject: Aid for the textiles, clothing and leather sectors

The French authorities are reported to have submitted a scheme for providing aid for their textiles and leather
products sectors by means of a plan to subsidize labour.

This scheme has been rejected as (cid:145)sectoral(cid:146) by Commissioner Van Miert.

The French authorities have promised to change it and re-submit it as a (cid:145)horizontal scheme(cid:146).

Will the Commission say how this whole affair has developed so far, whether any aid has been given to the
textiles, clothing and leather sectors in any EU country and whether it is planned to give such aid to any non-EU
country in future?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(23 July 1997)

On 9 April 1997 the Commission adopted a final negative decision on the experimental measures for reducing
social security contributions in the textile, clothing, leather and footwear sectors in France.

It took the view that, normally, the burden on firms resulting from agreements concluded between the two sides
of industry in a particular sector, whether with a view to reorganising working time or with other objectives in
mind, and leading to wage increases or paid holidays not required under the rules generally applicable should be
borne by those firms. In its opinion, therefore, intervention by the authorities in the case at issue intrinsically
ranks in its entirety as state aid.