WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2727/97 by Luigi CALIGARIS to the Commission. MEDA funding for interregional cooperation with Mediterranean third countries (MTCs) under the 1997/99 ECOS- OUVERTURE programme
Date: 1997-07-30
Institutions: CALIGARIS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, France, Mediterranean third countries, aid system, economic and social cohesion, regional policy













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91997E2727

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2727/97 by Luigi CALIGARIS to the Commission. MEDA funding for interregional cooperation with Mediterranean third countries (MTCs) under the 1997/99 ECOS- OUVERTURE programme  


Official Journal C 076 , 11/03/1998 P. 0133 





WRITTEN QUESTION P-2727/97 by Luigi Caligaris (ELDR) to the Commission (30 July 1997)Subject: MEDA funding for interregional cooperation with Mediterranean third countries (MTCs) under the 1997/99 ECOS-OUVERTURE programmeFollowing a report by the Court of Auditors highlighting serious irregularities in the implementation of the MED programmes on multilateral and interregional cooperation, the Commission has decided to suspend the allocation of funds from the MEDA budget (around ECU 350 m) earmarked for interregional cooperation with Mediterranean third countries (MTCs).While most of these funds are intended for the financing of measures scheduled under the MED programmes, a small proportion of the funding is aimed at financing 'external interregional cooperation' projects under the ECOS-OUVERTURE programme in which MTCs have been allowed to participate since 1996.1. Can the Commission explain why all these funds are still being blocked?2. Does the Commission not believe that, if this situation persists, it may discourage the partnership initiatives that are on the point of being implemented between the regional and local authorities of the Union and those of the MTCs, thereby hampering the Euro-Mediterranean policy launched at the Barcelona Conference?3. Does the Commission intend to take the necessary steps in the near future to release the MEDA funding for multilateral and decentralized cooperation?4. In view of the specific characteristics of the 1997/99 ECOS-OUVERTURE programme, which is the only programme with a broad partnership scheme open to the local authorities of the Member States, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Mediterranean third countries with the aim of strengthening economic and social cohesion, can the Commission give precise details of the proportion of MEDA funding which it intends to earmark for that programme and the time needed to allocate such funding?Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (11 September 1997)1. and 3. The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that there has been no decision to block funding of multilateral cooperation under MEDA. The decentralised cooperation programmes were blocked pending the outcome of the Parliament's discussion of the Court of auditors report, but all other multilateral activities are proceeding. Now that the Parliament has voted its resolution on the programmes it will be possible to proceed to relaunch them on the terms agreed by the Parliament.2. The relaunching of the programmes, in particular Med Urbs, will encourage the active participation of local authorities in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.4. It is not at present envisaged to provide financing from Meda for local authorities to participate in ECOS-Ouverture. This question will be examined in the light of progress made on relaunching the decentralised cooperation programmes.