WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3491/97 by Jaak VANDEMEULEBROUCKE to the Commission. Relocation of Flemish companies to Hainault and Northern France
Date: 1997-11-03
Institutions: European Parliament, VANDEMEULEBROUCKE
Subjects: Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Province of Hainault, Province of West Flanders, environmental standard, harmonisation of standards, industrial pollution, transfer of businesses, transfrontier pollution, water pollution

8. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174/65

The Commission is also planning to pursue its bilateral meetings with the national authorities concerning the
implementation  of  directives  in  general  terms.  These  meetings  (known  as  (cid:145)directive  missions(cid:146))  provide  an
opportunity to make authorities aware of their duty to transpose directives and to help them in their job of doing
so. The purpose is to speed up the transposal process and thereby avert infringement situations.

2.

3.

The schedule of meetings for 1998 is under discussion with the national authorities.

Yes.

(98/C 174/107)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3488/97

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(3 November 1997)

Subject: Essex Returners Unit › Failure of Bid to DG V

Can the Commission confirm that it has received a formal complaint from the Essex Returners Unit regarding the
alleged  mishandling  by  the  Commission  of  its  project  bid  97/D4/UK/171-2,  including  the  allocation  of  an
incorrect project reference and a number of other errors?

Can the Commission confirm that it will provide a full and detailed report on why the bid failed and confirm the
date when this will be provided?

Given the apparent extenuating circumstances, can the Commission identify alternative budget lines which may
be available to contribute towards the project(cid:146)s costs?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 1997)

The Commission did receive a complaint from the Essex Returners Unit about the rejection of its application for
a grant within the framework of the European year against racism. A detailed explanation of the reasons for the
Commission(cid:146)s decision was sent to the Essex Returners Unit on 31 July 1997.

The Commission rejects the suggestion that this application was in any way mishandled. It was rejected for lack
of compliance with a number of formal and qualitative criteria, which were clearly stipulated in all documents
relating to applications for funding within the framework of the European year. The applicant has been added to
the Commission(cid:146)s mailing list and will be informed of any other funding opportunities for actions to combat
racism.

(98/C 174/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/97

by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARE) to the Commission

(3 November 1997)

Subject: Relocation of Flemish companies to Hainault and Northern France

Both the Northern French regions of Lens and Lille and the Belgian province of Hainault benefit from Cohesion
Fund subsidies, unlike the adjacent Flemish province of West Flanders. The environmental standards in Northern
France and Hainault are also not as strict as in Flanders. The clear result has been that various companies from the
southern  part  of  West  Flanders  have  relocated  to  the  much  more  lucrative  neighbouring  regions,  where,  in
addition  they  do  not  have  to  pay  so  much  attention  to  ecological  measures.  Ironically,  it  is  Flanders  which
actually has to take responsibility for a large proportion of the pollution from these companies as a result of the
pollution of the River Leie.