WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1452/98 by José BARROS MOURA to the Commission. Community funding of hydraulic projects in Spain
Date: 1998-05-07
Institutions: BARROS MOURA, European Parliament
Subjects: Cohesion Fund, European Regional Development Fund, Portugal, Spain, hydraulic machinery, hydraulic works

C 386/130

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.98

2. The conditions which were applied to the co-financing of the Alqueva project derived from its exceptional
scale (more than ECU 300 million of Community funds) which raised special problems in terms of
environmental protection, water supplies, economic development and coordination of monitoring measures.(cid:146)

However, it is important to look at the actual facts and figures. In the case of the Alqueva project, the ERDF will
contribute, in 1997 prices, only ECU 96.6 million. The remainder of the funds will be covered by the Cohesion
Fund, the ESF and the EAGGF Guidance Section. To compare with corresponding values in Spain, where
funding is also provided by the Cohesion Fund for hydrographic basins, we need to refer to the ERDF.
The Regional Development Fund is to provide funding for the Spanish hydrological plan over the same period
(Community Support Framework) amounting to ESC 260 billion, i.e. thirteen times more than the amount
available to the Alqueva project.

As the Commission must be aware, the fact that a programme or project (such as the Spanish hydrological plan
which, according to all the evidence, includes a large number of dams and (cid:145)transfusion points(cid:146) funded by the
ERDF and situated in international rivers, such as the Guadiana) is divided up does not mean that it should not be
treated as a global entity, especially if one takes account of the single nature of the contributions to the same
project.

How can the Commission therefore assert that no Spanish project of the same scale as the Alqueva project has
been funded? And how can it be impartial when it maintains that only the Alqueva project required special
monitoring conditions to be laid down for co-funding?

(1) OJ C 354, 19.11.1998.

(98/C 386/181)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1452/98

by JosØ Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 1998)

Subject: Community funding of hydraulic projects in Spain

1.
Can the Commission supply a comparative table concerning ERDF spending up to the end of 1997 under the
CSF for Spain on measure 6.1 (hydrological plan) as contrasted with expenditure on major hydraulic projects in
Portugal?

Can the Commission also draw up a comparative table of the conditions attached by the ERDF to these

2.
payments in the case of each of the two Member States?

Joint answer to Written Questions
E-1447/98 and P-1452/98
given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(20 May 1998)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as
soon as possible.

(98/C 386/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1448/98

by JosØ Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: 1998 consumer protection projects

Following the doubts expressed in Portugal by reliable consumer protection organizations regarding the criteria
for the approval of projects to be carried out in Portugal with Community funding in 1998 in accordance with the
notice in OJ C 277, 12.9.1997, will the Commission provide the following information: