WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3220/97 by Antonio GRAZIANI to the Commission. Earthquake in Central Italy
Date: 1997-10-09
Institutions: European Parliament, GRAZIANI ANTONIO
Subjects: Marches, Umbria, aid to disaster victims, architectural heritage, cultural heritage, disaster area, earthquake, emergency aid, natural disaster

C 117/164

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 4. 98

2.
In 1997, 33 contracts have been issued and in most cases the first payment has been made or has been
ordered.  It  is  intended  to  issue  a  further  20  contracts  before  the  end  of  1997.  The  delays  are  a  result  of  the
reorganisation mentioned above.

The Commission is aware that the average time taken to process applications has increased significantly

3.
since 1994.

4.
The Commission has initiated a far-reaching review of the support of organisations through subsidies. Until
now, support of organisations which help victims of torture has been treated as project support and subject to
control in line with SEM 2000. As soon as revised guidelines for subsidies are adopted, it is hoped that it will be
possible  to  manage  torture  victim  support  under  those  guidelines  which  will  provide  for  more  rapid  and
appropriate assistance than is now possible.

As a general rule, the Commission has set a target that its operations of payment should be completed within
60 days (1). To deal with cases where, despite those precautions, payment has not been made within the period of
60 days, the Commission decided in June 1997 to change its policy on contracts to introduce from the 1 October
1997 creditors right to interest when payments are made late (2). This decision on payment of interest applies
neither to officials nor to public authorities nor does it apply to straightforward subsidies. It covers however
grants  and  financial  contributions  when  there  is  a  specific  obligation  laid  down  on  the  beneficiary,  e.g.  the
obligation of submitting a report to show that the funds were spent in accordance with the objectives specified.
For  the  longer  term,  the  Commission  is  examining  the  possibility  of  extending  the  application  of  interest
payment to other sectors by a modification of the Financial Regulation.

(1)  SEC(91) 1172, SEC(95) 1122, SEC(96) 564.
(2)  SEC(97) 1205.

(98/C 117/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3213/97

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 October 1997)

Subject: Monaco(cid:146)s status in European Union

What official relationship does Monaco have with the European Union?

Is it the Commission(cid:146)s view that the Bosman ruling should not apply to the transfer of John Collins from Monaco
to Celtic?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 1997)

Monaco  is  an  independent  third  country  which  is  not  part  of  the  Community.  However,  given  its  special
relationship with one Member State, Monaco is part of the European customs union.

As regards the second part of the question, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to
written question E-1920/97 (1).

(1)  OJ C 21, 22.1.1998, p. 121.

(98/C 117/224)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3220/97

by Antonio Graziani (PPE) to the Commission

(9 October 1997)

Subject: Earthquake in Central Italy

On 26 and 27 September an earthquake devastated Central Italy, in particular the regions of Umbria and the
Marches,  killing  around  ten  people  and  causing  serious  damage  not  only  to  houses  but  also  to  buildings