WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1730/98 by Gerardo FERNÁNDEZ-ALBOR to the Commission. European Union involvement in the Araucaria programme
Date: 1998-06-05
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ ALBOR
Subjects: Latin America, Spain, aid programme, biodiversity, co-financing, development aid, exchange of information, financial aid, tropical forest

C 13/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.1.1999

The zone in the proximity of the Donana park which was struck by the disaster is eligible for the intervention of
the European regional development fund (ERDF) under objective 1. The Commission recently invited the
Spanish authorities to reflect on the possibility of modifying the interventions currently co-financed under the
ERDF with a view to redirecting any funds released to counter the negative effects of the accident in the zone
affected. The Commission has also proposed the co-financing of a technical assistance project aimed at
deepening the analysis of the effects of the accident in order to guide Community action in the medium to
long term.

(1999/C 13/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1722/98

by Eolo Parodi (PPE) and Guido Viceconte (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: New measures for the road haulage sector

(29 May 1998)

The Italian Government is preparing to issue measures, in accordance with Law No 454/97 and Bill No 85 of
14 March 1998, to permit a number of road haulage undertakings to double their haulage capacity.

Does the Commission not consider that, instead of doubling haulage capacities, the Italian Government
1.
should be working towards the regrouping of undertakings, given the present fragmentation of the Italian market?

Does it not also consider that such measures run counter to the smooth functioning of the free market,

2.
particularly with the prospect of liberalization on 1 July?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(17 July 1998)

On 24 April 1997, the Italian authorities notified to the Commission a draft law concerning the restructuring of
the road sector and the development of intermodality. On 23 December 1997, this draft was adopted as Law
No 454 according to the Italian legislative procedure. The text of the final law was subsequently transmitted to the
Commission by letter of 30 January 1998.

As the Commission had doubts about the compatibility with the Common Market of the proposed measures, it
decided to open a formal investigation under Article 93(2) of the EC Treaty on 25 March 1998. (Commission
Decision C/21/98).

Since the Honourable Members(cid:146) questions refer to an ongoing procedure it is clearly not possible for the
Commission to make a full and conclusive response to those questions at this juncture.

(1999/C 13/102)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1730/98

by Gerardo FernÆndez-Albor (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: European Union involvement in the Araucaria programme

(5 June 1998)

The coral beds of Los Roques (Venezuela), the island of Coiba (Panama) and the Sonora Desert in Baja California
are some of the areas covered by the Araucaria programme, through which the Spanish Government is seeking to
meet the commitments made in the Convention on Biological Diversity, signed after the Rio Summit.

Spanish investment in various endangered habitats in Latin America over the coming five years will reach
10 billion pesetas, an undertaking which the Spanish Government hopes will benefit from contributions from
public and private bodies, the business sector and the governments of the recipient countries.