WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3534/97 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Involvement of the Labour Bank in Social Fund programmes
Date: 1997-11-12
Institutions: ALAVANOS, European Parliament
Subjects: EU programme, European Social Fund, Greece, competence of the Member States, disclosure of information, infringement of EU law, private bank, vocational training

C 158/142

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

25. 5. 98

(98/C 158/186)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3531/97

by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission

(12 November 1997)

Subject: Intensive rearing of laying hens in Neubukow

A battery complex for 800 000 laying hens is being built in Neubukow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

1.

2.

3.

To what extent is the EU supporting the construction of the complex, directly and indirectly?

Are EU funds being used to develop the infrastructure?

Is money from the Structural Funds being used to develop the complex?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(11 December 1997)

There are no plans to provide any Community support for either the construction of or the infrastructure related
to the battery complex for 800 000 laying hens at Neubukow in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Germany).
The  Community  rules  on  aid  to  investment  in  agricultural  holdings,  (Council  Regulation  (EC)  No  950/97  of
20 May 1997 on improving the efficiency of agricultural holdings (1)) exclude aid in the eggs and poultrymeat
sector apart from aid to protect the environment and to promote hygiene in premises and the welfare of livestock
and then only provided there is no increase in capacity. Accordingly, the Objective 1 operational programme for
Mecklenburg-Western  Pomerania  includes  no  part-finance  for  this  project.  At  national  level,  the  Federal
Government has reacted unfavourably to support for infrastructure in the form of the construction of rural roads.
It is not possible to provide the Honourable Member with information about national assistance for construction
since the procedure for approval at national level has still not been terminated.

(1)  OJ L 142, 2.6.1997.

(98/C 158/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3534/97

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 November 1997)

Subject: Involvement of the Labour Bank in Social Fund programmes

In its Reply to Written Question P-3140/97 (1), the Commission failed to indicate whether the Labour Bank is
involved in Community programmes, in particular Social Fund education and training programmes for its staff.
Can  the  Commission  provide  the  information  requested  and,  if  the  bank  was  involved  in  these  programmes,
indicate how many men and women participated over the last three years?

Finally,  in  its  Reply  the  Commission  indicated  that,  even  if  an  infringement  had  occurred,  since  it  had  been
committed by a private company, it did not justify direct intervention by the Commission. If this is the case, what
are  the  Commission(cid:146)s  procedures  for  intervention  in  the  private  sector  (Labour  Bank)  in  response  to
infringements of Community law in cases where the offender is involved in programmes funded by the European
Union?  In  this  case,  is  the  private  sector  not  obliged  to  respect  the  rules  of  the  European  Union,  which  is
providing funding for its programmes?

(1)  OJ C 102, 3.4.1998, p. 166.