WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4180/97 by Riitta MYLLER to the Commission. Preparation in the Commission of the interim report on the EU's northern dimension
Date: 1998-01-21
Institutions: European Parliament, MYLLER
Subjects: European conference, Finland, Northern Europe, Sweden, agreement (EU), cooperation agreement, enlargement of the Union, regional policy, report

C 304/14

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

(98/C 304/20)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4178/97

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission

(21 January 1998)

Subject: Cohesion policy and culture

Article 128(4) of the EC Treaty states that the Community shall take cultural aspects into account in its action
under other provisions of the Treaty.

Can the Commission say what monitoring and control measures have been adopted in this connection, especially
in the context of Community structural policy?

Can the Commission say to what extent this aspect will be taken into account in the forthcoming reform of the
Structural Funds?

What strategy, objectives and guidelines will accompany this reform with regard to the impact of the cultural
sector on cohesion policy?

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

(2 March 1998)

The  Commission  takes  account  of  the  cultural  factor  during  negotiation  and  approval  of  the  programming
documents. For example, the Commission made explicit reference to culture in its guidelines to the Member
States for the new objective 2 programmes (1997-1999).

However, the definition of programme priorities is a matter for the regional and local authorities concerned. For
example, the regions themselves decide whether and in what form they will give priority to integration of culture
within their programmes. The Commission may not impose any type of (cid:145)quota(cid:146) as regards culture as this would
conflict with the principle of subsidiarity.

The Commission considers culture as an important area of potential job creation to be included in the future
programmes. At the same time the Commission does not consider it necessary to include culture explicitly as a
specific eligible action in the new regulations because it is already covered by the existing scope.

The link with regional development and job creation will remain a necessary condition for assistance aimed at
economic and social cohesion.

(98/C 304/21)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4180/97

by Riitta Myller (PSE) to the Commission

(21 January 1998)

Subject: Preparation in the Commission of the interim report on the EU(cid:146)s northern dimension

The enlargement of the EU in 1995 to include the Nordic countries Sweden and Finland moved the Union(cid:146)s
centre  of  gravity  northwards.  The  decision  on  launching  negotiations  with  the  new  candidate  countries  on
membership and preparations for membership, together with the need to develop the EU(cid:146)s policy on Russia,
further reinforces the significance of the northern dimension in the Union(cid:146)s policies.

The  Presidency  conclusions  from  the  Luxembourg  summit  contain  the  following  statement  concerning  the
northern dimension: (cid:145)The European Council noted the Finnish proposal concerning a northern dimension for the
policies of the Union and requests the Commission to submit an interim report on this subject at a forthcoming
European Council meeting in 1998(cid:146). The importance of the northern dimension was also referred to in the report
submitted by the Commission (at the instructions of Luxembourg) on regional cooperation.

I would therefore ask the Commissioner responsible what preparations the Commission has made to ensure that
sufficient resources are available for the drafting of the interim report, and how it intends to link the northern
dimension to the work of future European Councils.