WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1912/98 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA to the Council. The European Spatial Development Perspective and the Structural Funds
Date: 1998-06-17
Institutions: European Parliament, VARELA SUANZES-CARPEGNA
Subjects: EU control, European Commission, Structural Funds, project evaluation, regional policy, town and country planning

C 96/14

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

Twenty nine events took place in the programme Interprise in 1997, with one third in basic industries such as
agrofood (6), mechanical and electrotechnical engineering (2), metallurgy (1),and textiles (1). Among the events
focusing on other specific industries were an event in Harstad (Norway) on the oil industry, an event in Verona
(Italy) on transport and logistical services, DecideV in (cid:214)rebro (Sweden) on the defence industry, an event on
software and network in Venice (Italy), an event on telecommunications in Rennes (France), and an event on
design industries in Barcelona (Spain). Particular mention should perhaps also be made of environmental
technologies which were the focus of six events.

It is not easy to say in which sectors small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) have most benefited from these
programmes. As far as coverage of the different sectors is concerned, the Commission is of the opinion that a
wide range of different sectors is reached with the programmes. As far as the concrete results are concerned, the
Commission is not aware of a direct relation between choice of sector and cooperation results. Many other
variables may play a role and have an impact on these results (regional characteristics, quality of the companies
found in the host region, quality of the logistical organisation and of the promotion in other countries, SME
support policies that may or may not be in place in the regions or countries concerned). The feed-back the
Commission receives from organisers of events does suggest that, no matter what the sector chosen by the
regional or national organisers, the great majority of participating SMEs are very satisfied with the events
organised in their sector.

(1999/C 96/019)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1912/98

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Council

(17 June 1998)

Subject: The European Spatial Development Perspective and the Structural Funds

Parliament, in its report A4-0206/98, has pointed out that, although the Treaty provides for no specific
competences in the field of regional planning, it appears from certain the provisions that the Commission is
empowered to monitor and coordinate the regional effects of the Community policies (see Articles 129b, 130a,
130b, 130r and 130s) in the context of its powers of legislative initiative and implementation. The same report
also recalls that, following the informal Council of Noordwijk, the Commission undertook a series of internal
consultations of its departments, as a result of which it was concluded that it should be possible to set up
permanent mechanisms for the monitoring, assessment and coordination of the regional effects of the various
fields of Community activity.

Can the Council state its position on the way in which this mandate has been taken into account in the proposals
for reform of the Structural Funds adopted by the Commission on 18 March 1998?

Reply

(19 October 1998)

As the Commission proposals on reform of the Structural Funds are currently under discussion, the Council is
unable at present to assess their content.

(1999/C 96/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1918/98

by Winfried Menrad (PPE) to the Commission

(18 June 1998)

Subject: Italian language and cultural studies for school-age children of Italian origin in Baden-W(cid:252)rttemberg

Mother-tongue teaching for children of Italian origin takes place in German schools in Baden-W(cid:252)rttemberg and is
provided by Italian officials, who are seconded to provide this service in the Federal Republic, by salaried
teaching staff and, finally, by staff paid on a fee basis. The seconded officials have both a regulated income and
satisfactory social cover.