WRITTEN QUESTION No. 24/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. The Kurdish problem and the European Union
Date: 1998-01-15
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: Community budget, EU aid, EU programme, Iraq, ethnic group, integration of migrants, linguistic group, political asylum, political refugee

17. 7. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 223/87

(98/C 223/108)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0023/98

by Francis Decourrie‘re (PPE) to the Commission

(29 January 1998)

Subject: Single Programming Document › Objective 1, France, Hainaut › Industrial waste measures ›

Priority 4 › Sub-priority 4 › Measures 15-1

My attention has on a number of occasions been drawn to the difficulties encountered in obtaining funding for
projects concerning matter other than industrial waste, on the grounds that it is said not to be eligible.

1.  Cannot units for the treatment of:

›  hospital waste
›  green waste
›  domestic refuse
be eligible under the measures industrial waste › Priority 4 › Sub-priority 4 › Measures 15-1?

2.  Will the Commission extend the projects eligible to cover them?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(17 February 1998)

The  question  refers  to  the  difficulties  said  to  be  encountered  by  certain  projects  for  the  treatment  of
non-industrial waste under the single programming document (SPD) for Objective 1 in the North/Pas de Calais
region.

The Commission wishes give high priority in regional policy operations to the treatment of industrial waste and
to the establishment and development of firms, particularly small and medium-sized firms, in the environmental
sector. That is why this SPD for Objective 1 does not include part-financing for units to treat non-industrial waste
or  for  collective  sewage  treatment  plants.  The  amendment  of  the  SPD  to  include  them  could  have  serious
financial repercussions and would mean a revision of the strategy, which would be a matter for the partnership.

It should, however, be possible to support the establishment of firms to treat or recycle waste, particularly if they
use new technologies. The SPD does include measures to support investment by firms and for the introduction of
clean and economical technologies into existing firms. It should be possible to use these measures, with any
necessary adjustments, to meet the needs referred to.

(98/C 223/109)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0024/98

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(15 January 1998)

Subject: The Kurdish problem and the European Union

Following the recent mass exodus of Kurds into Europe, how will the Commission direct its programmes in order
to provide guarantees and essential aid for Kurds in the Member States of the European Union, particularly those
who have political refugee status, in view of the fact that they have also been officially recognized as belonging
to a political and linguistic minority?

Answer given by Ms Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 1998)

The  Conclusions  of  the  Luxembourg  European  Council  referred  to  the  massive  influx  of  immigrants,  in
particular from Iraq (1). The Council was requested to prepare and implement an action plan which would also
take account of the causes of the influx, of which humanitarian aspects and human rights were an integral part.
The plan outlines external relations measures to be taken by the European Union and will also contain a justice
and home affairs component, covering in particular the asylum and immigration aspects. The Commission was
actively involved in drawing up the action plan as it will be in its implementation.