WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3946/97 by Johannes SWOBODA to the Commission. Freedom of expression for the Open Society Institute, Croatia
Date: 1997-12-12
Institutions: European Parliament, SWOBODA
Subjects: Croatia, freedom of association, freedom of expression, freedom of opinion, freedom of the press, human rights, protection of freedoms

16. 6. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187/99

(98/C 187/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3945/97

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(4 December 1997)

Subject: State aids to undertakings in deprived urban areas

In October 1996 the Commission adopted a new reference framework for state aids to undertakings in deprived
urban areas. Under the previous system, the Member States had been unable to take full account of the wide
range of social and economic problems obtaining in the outlying areas of Europe(cid:146)s major cities. The ceiling for
such aid was set at 26% net of investment and ECU 10 000 for each new job created. The Commission(cid:146)s intention
was to help boost employment in outlying areas, where unemployment rates are generally high.

Despite  the  fact  that  the  Commission  called  on  the  Member  States  to  take  advantage  of  this  new  legislative
framework, which is valid for five years and provides for specific aid programmes, the Italian Government has as
yet › more than a year since the framework(cid:146)s adoption › failed to adopt all the measures required to initiate such
programmes.

Given the above, would the Commission state:

1. 

its views on the Italian Government(cid:146)s tardiness in applying the new European rules, given in particular that
they are valid for only five years from 1996?

2.  which Member States have, pursuant to the Commission communication, already initiated aid programmes

for outlying areas of major cities?

Answer given by Mr Van Miert on behalf of the Commission

(13 January 1998)

As the Commission indicated to the Honourable Member in its answer to Written Question No P-2628/97 (1), the
guidelines on state aid for undertakings in deprived urban areas (2), adopted by it on 2 October 1996, lay down
rules for identifying urban districts which can be classed as deprived urban areas eligible for state aid subject to
certain conditions and ceilings which, if met, allow the aid to be considered compatible with the common market.
Those  rules  are  intended  as  clarification  for  Member  States,  not  as  an  invitation  to  grant  aid.  It  is  the
Member States which are responsible for taking decisions to grant aid and, if they do so, they are required to
inform the Commission of any such plans they may have and to obtain its approval.

It is the Commission(cid:146)s understanding that only France has so far proceeded to grant this aid.

(1)  OJ C 82, 17.3.1998, p. 117.
(2)  OJ C 146, 14.5.1997.

(98/C 187/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3946/97

by Johannes Swoboda (PSE) to the Commission

(12 December 1997)

Subject: Freedom of expression for the Open Society Institute, Croatia

According  to  newspaper  reports,  the  Open  Society  Institute,  Croatia,  has  come  under  heavy  pressure  from
President  Tudjman  or  the  government  (International  Herald  Tribune,  25  November  1997,  p.  6,  (cid:145)Tudjman(cid:146)s
Vendetta(cid:146)).