WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3331/97 by Thomas MANN to the Commission. Implementation of European Union measures at local level
Date: 1997-10-22
Institutions: European Parliament, MANN THOMAS
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, access to EU information, aid system, dissemination of EU information, elderly person, local government, municipality, non-governmental organisation, terms for aid

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/139

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(8 December 1997)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  its  answer  to  Written  Question  E-2945/97  by
Mrs Muscardini (1).

(1)  OJ C 117, 16.4.1998, p. 108.

(98/C 134/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3331/97

by Thomas Mann (PPE) to the Commission

(22 October 1997)

Subject: Implementation of European Union measures at local level

In connection with European Union measures, such as those for the elderly, local authorities in my constituency
have on numerous occasions complained that when European Union support programmes are announced the
notice given and the deadlines for submitting applications are too short. It is often alleged therefore that Europe(cid:146)s
programmes are of no more than token significance.

The compilation of complex dossiers involves considerable difficulties for applicants. In addition to this, there is
the  time  required  for  the  adoption  of  relevant  decisions  by  local  assemblies,  which  cannot  meet  the
Commission(cid:146)s deadlines because of the need to complete statutory procedures.

I therefore put the following questions to the Commission:

1.  How are local authorities informed about the existence of relevant support programmes and how does the

Commission intend to improve the often inadequate flow of information?

2.  Why are the deadlines for submitting applications for such programmes so short?

3.  What possibilities are there of suitably extending these deadlines?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 1997)

1.
The  application  guidelines  concerning  budget  line  B3-4104  (cid:145)Measures  to  assist  the  elderly(cid:146)  were
distributed to relevant ministries in all Member States and to the main European non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) working for older people. A substantial number of application guidelines were also distributed following
requests  to  the  Commission.  The  Commission  will,  however,  consider  how  to  improve  the  distribution  of
information about the availability of funding, and the conditions for eligibility in the future.

2.
The United Kingdom has challenged in the Court of justice the legality of Commission spending on the
1996 budget line (cid:145)Measures to assist the elderly(cid:146). The Court ordered the Commission to suspend any payments
from this budget line pending a final judgement. The British challenge made an assessment on the operationality
of the 1997 budget line necessary. As a consequence, it was not possible to issue the guidelines earlier.

The  Commission  considers  all  requests  for  extension  of  deadlines.  However,  in  order  to  ensure  fair

3.
treatment of all applicants, the general principle is that the same deadline applies to everyone equally.