WRITTEN QUESTION No. 278/98 by Panayotis LAMBRIAS to the Commission. New LEADER programme
Date: 1998-02-13
Institutions: European Parliament, LAMBRIAS
Subjects: EU initiative, EU programme, Structural Funds, aid to agriculture, common agricultural policy, distribution of aid, eligibility criteria, eligible region, regional aid, rural development

C 304/68

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

2. 10. 98

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(13 March 1998)

As  stated  in  the  previous  reply  to  the  Honourable  Member(cid:146)s  written  question  E-3670/97 (1)  and  to  written
question E-3449/97 by Mr de Vries (2), the Television without frontiers Directive 97/36/EC of Parliament and of
the Council of 30 June 1997 amending Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of certain provisions
laid  down  by  law,  regulation  or  administrative  action  in  Member  States  concerning  the  pursuit  of  television
broadcasting activities (3) provides that Member States shall ensure freedom of reception on their territory of
television broadcasts from other Member States (Article 2a(1)).

This obligation is based on one of the four fundamental freedoms laid down in the EC Treaty (the freedom to
provide services › Article 59).

In respect of the particular circumstances of the case, the Commission stated that it required further information
to enable an evaluation to be carried out, in respect of conformity with Community law. The Commission, in its
role of guardian of the Treaties is required to evaluate possible breaches of Community law. The timing of such
an  evaluation  would  depend  on  the  complexity  of  the  facts  involved,  on  the  assumption  that  the  necessary
information was available.

(1)  OJ C 174, 8.6.1998, p. 95.
(2)  OJ C 174, 8.6.1998, p. 60.
(3)  OJ L 202, 30.7.1997.

(98/C 304/96)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0278/98

by Panayotis Lambrias (PPE) to the Commission

(13 February 1998)

Subject: New LEADER programme

According to recent statements by Commissioner Fischler, it is planned to extend to LEADER programme to
include  the  whole  of  European  agriculture.  Recognising  that  the  agricultural  policy  of  the  Union  is  in  a
transitional period, will the Commission say:

1.  Does it intend to take measures to ensure that there is no reduction in what has already been achieved in
Objective 1 and 5b regions and that essential financial support, in line with the present needs, continues with
the new LEADER programme?

2.  Does  it  intend  substantially  to  increase  the  funds  for  the  new  LEADER  programme  in  keeping  with  the
increased  area  covered  and  the  need  for  more  intensive  support  for  the  less-developed  regions  of  the
European Union?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 1998)

For the regions currently eligible under Objectives 1 and 5(b) which will cease to be eligible under the
1.
selection  criteria  to  be  used  in  the  new  period,  the  Commission  is  proposing  transitional  financial  support
through regional programmes to be drawn up in agreement with the Member State concerned.

The new rural development Initiative, which the Honourable Member describes as (cid:145)new Leader(cid:146), could provide
further  support  for  those  regions  in  accordance  with  the  guidelines  on  its  objectives  and  scope  which  the
Commission will lay down.

2.
The Commission is proposing that 5% of the resources of the Structural Funds should be allocated to the
three Community Initiatives, one of which will be the Initiative for rural development, but it has not yet divided
that amount among the Initiatives. The concentration of appropriations on three Community Initiatives instead of
the existing 14 will improve implementation in the sectors selected.