WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1018/98 by Rolf BEREND to the Commission. Funding of Weimar's reign as European City of Culture in 1999
Date: 1998-04-06
Institutions: BEREND, European Parliament
Subjects: EU financing, EU programme, Thuringia, cultural policy, financial year, multiannual financial framework

11.12.98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 386/71

(98/C 386/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1002/98

by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission

(2 April 1998)

Subject: Flouting of Community legislation in the contracting procedure for the (cid:145)Cispadana(cid:146) road project

Following Commissioner Bjerregaard(cid:146)s reply to my Written Question (E-3972/97) (1) concerning the (cid:145)Cispadana(cid:146)
road project, I should like to inform the Commission that the stage of the contracting procedure at which the
bidders submit their documentation was completed on 27 February 1998 but that this procedure was not carried
out by the Italian authorities (Ministry of Public Works and ANAS) in accordance with the provisions of
Directive 93/37/EEC (2).

Has the Commission received the information requested from the Italian authorities and what conclusion has it
reached?

Does the Commission consider that, following the latest developments in this case, there are grounds for bringing
Italy before the Court of Justice for failing to meet its obligations under the Treaty, pursuant to Article 169?

(1) OJ C 196, 22.6.1998, p. 44.
(2) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993, p. 54.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 June 1998)

The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will
inform him of the outcome as soon as possible.

(98/C 386/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1018/98

by Rolf Berend (PPE) to the Commission

(6 April 1998)

Subject: Funding of Weimar(cid:146)s reign as European City of Culture in 1999

In 1999, Weimar in Thuringia will be the European City of Culture. To date, the City of Culture scheme has been
financed through the Kaleidoscope programme. Weimar will be an exception in that the Kaleidoscope
programme finishes in December 1998. It is uncertain how Weimar(cid:146)s reign as European City of Culture will
be funded. The City of Weimar and the Land of Thuringia need clarification of the financing arrangements soon.

Will Weimar(cid:146)s reign as European City of Culture be financed as part of a pilot project and, if so, how, and how
much funding will be allocated? Or is it planned in this case to extend the Kaleidoscope programme on a one-off
basis?

When can a final decision be expected?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(14 May 1998)

Without prejudice to the decisions which will eventually be taken on this matter by the Community institutions
and the budgetary authority in particular, the Commission is able to confirm that it is planning to continue in 1999
the financial support traditionally granted by the Community to the (cid:145)European City of Culture(cid:146) project.

As regards the basis on which this grant will be paid, the Commission is proposing to use the preparatory stage of
the framework programme on culture, currently in preparation within the Commission and scheduled to go before
Parliament and the Council in May 1998.