WRITTEN QUESTION No. 471/98 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. Consultation in the production of structural fund guidelines, as agreed at the informal Council in Ireland (14-15.11.1996)
Date: 1998-02-27
Institutions: European Parliament, HOWITT
Subjects: EU employment policy, EU regional policy, Ireland, Structural Funds, local government, social partners, town and country planning, voluntary organisation

21. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 323/39

Concerning the alleged violation of state aid rules the German government informed the Commission with letters
of  26  January  1998  and  16  February  1998  about  the  justification  and  the  main  components  of  the  envisaged
barrier. A first discussion between the German authorities and the Commission was held on 18 February 1998.
The  German  government  pointed  out  that  the  barrier  was  first  of  all  needed  for  an  improvement  of  flood
protection in the adjoining area.

As some questions are still open, the Commission is not yet able to take position whether the construction or
certain parts of it are to be considered as state aid in the sense of Article 92 of the EC Treaty. The Commission
will therefore continue investigations. In this context the current enlargement of the port of Papenburg will be
addressed as well.

As regards the possible infringement of environmental law, the complainants, at the request of the Commission,
gave detailed information which is currently being assessed.

(98/C 323/49)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0471/98

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(27 February 1998)

Subject: Consultation in the production of structural fund guidelines, as agreed at the informal Council in Ireland

(14-15.11.1996)

What consultation took place with Member States and with local regional authorities, voluntary organisations
and  the  social  partners  within  eligible  areas  before  the  production  of  these  guidelines  for  1997-1999  in  May
1997? Given that they were not referred for consultation to the European Parliament until December 1997, in
what sense is the Commission ensuring meaningful consultation on this question? Does the Commission plan
any changes in this respect for the new structural fund programming period: 1999-2006?

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

(6 April 1998)

No formal consultation took place with local and regional authorities, voluntary organisations or social partners
before  the  production  of  the  guidelines.  However,  formulation  of  the  guidelines  took  close  account  of  the
comments  of  Member  States  at  the  informal  meeting  of  ministers  responsible  for  regional  policy  and  spatial
planning held in Ireland on 14-15 November 1996, as well as the Presidency conclusions on that meeting. These
asked  the  Commission  to  (cid:145)formulate  policy  guidelines,  established  in  accordance  with  the  principle  of
subsidiarity, aimed at adapting the current Objective 1 and 6 programmes towards increased job-intensiveness
for the period to the end of 1999(cid:146). In this regard the guidelines reflect local circumstances as well as the role of
monitoring committees in deciding on adjustments to programmes (the Honourable Member is also referred to
his written question E-486/98 (1)).

For  the  new  structural  funds  programming  period,  the  Commission  is  proposing  a  similar  approach.  The
explanatory memorandum accompanying the proposed regulations also sets out the Community priorities for
structural policies.

(1)  See page 40.

(98/C 323/50)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0474/98

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(27 February 1998)

Subject: Regional Support Contracts in future structural fund programmes

What is the Commission(cid:146)s response to the proposal for Regional Support Contracts to be agreed between the
Commission, Member States and designated areas as equal partners for future structural fund programmes after
1999?