WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2479/98 by Bárbara DÜHRKOP DÜHRKOP to the Commission. Entitlement for EU citizens to vote in municipal elections in Belgium
Date: 1998-07-23
Institutions: DUEHRKOP DUEHRKOP, European Parliament
Subjects: Belgium, EC Directive, EU national, European citizenship, application of EU law, local election, national implementing measure, right to vote

22.2.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 50/147

(1999/C 50/222)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2460/98

by Hon(cid:243)rio Novo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 July 1998)

Subject: Delays in payment under subprogramme A of Pronorte

At the end of June 1998, the Portuguese media reported on the concerns expressed by various local authorities
concerning long delays in payments under the Pronorte programme.

Some of the local authorities concerned announced that they would have to suspend some of the work co-
financed under subprogramme A of Pronorte since, even though they had sent the relevant payment requests to
the government authorities in good time, they had still not received the funds corresponding to the work carried
out.

Some government authorities and their representatives have publicly suggested that the delays experienced in
payments under the above Pronorte subprogramme were caused by difficulties in releasing appropriations from
the Community budget, which they attribute to the Commission.

With a view to providing full public information on this matter and ensuring that it is dealt with in a properly
transparent manner, can the Commission provide information on the following:

Has the Commission delayed the transfer of funds to cover payments requested by the national authorities in
order to fulfil commitments arising from works being undertaken under subprogramme A of Pronorte? If so, what
are the reasons for the delays? If not, what information does the Commission have on the delay experienced in
Portugal between the transfer of Community funds and their being received by the local authorities?

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

(10 September 1998)

There are no delays in the Commission(cid:146)s payments for this programme. The Commission has asked the national
authorities for information concerning any delays in transferring funds to the local authorities.

(1999/C 50/223)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2479/98

by BÆrbara D(cid:252)hrkop D(cid:252)hrkop (PSE) to the Commission

(23 July 1998)

Subject: Entitlement for EU citizens to vote in municipal elections in Belgium

Following the Court of Justice judgment of 9 July 1998 which found against Belgium for having failed to
incorporate into national law the directive based on Article 8b(1) of the EU Treaty on the right of all EU citizens
to vote in municipal elections, even if they reside in a Member State of which they are not a national, what action
is the Commission intending to take in order to guarantee that all EU citizens resident in Belgium are entitled to
vote in the next municipal elections, in October 2000?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 September 1998)

If the Member State which has failed to fulfil its obligations does not take the necessary measures to comply with
the Court of Justice judgment referred to by the Honourable Member within a reasonable time-limit, the
Commission will institute the procedure provided for in Article 171 of the EC Treaty.