WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3834/98 by Paul RÜBIG Impact of international financial turmoil on the European steel market - industrial policy
Date: 1998-12-22
Institutions: European Parliament, RUEBIG
Subjects: Latin America, Russia, South-East Asia, United States, economic recession, import (EU), iron and steel industry, single market

12.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 325/31

(1999/C 325/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3826/98

by James Janssen van Raay (UPE), Niall Andrews (UPE)
and José Girão Pereira (UPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Audit of Community funding

1.
Is the Commission aware of the criticisms against the Dutch Senator, Mr Jan Nicol Scholten, in his
capacity as chairman of the Association of West European Parliamentarians for Action Against Apartheid, the
Afrika-Europa Instituut (Africa-Europe Institute), the Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland (Netherlands Refugee
Action) and the Refugiado (Refugee) Foundation, made in several reports published in Finland, Norway,
Sweden, Denmark and Ireland in which cases of misappropriation and embezzlement of funds for personal
ends were revealed?

2.

Has the Commission granted funding to any of the abovementioned bodies?

Is it true that, despite the criticisms made in the above countries, the Commission’s assessment of those

3.
bodies was favourable?

Does the Commission intend to carry out a thorough investigation to discover the truth and ensure that

4.
the activities of these bodies are carried out openly?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 1999)

1.
The Commission is aware of criticisms in various newspapers, and in at least one evaluation of
Association of west-european parlementarians for action against apartheid (AWEPA) initiated by a group of
donors to AWEPA and the Afrika-Europa Instituut (AEI).

2.

The Commission has provided funds to AWEPA/AEI for specific projects.

3. and 4.
The evaluation report, produced by independent consultants for the Commission, was completed
in early December 1998. Copies are sent direct to the Honourable Members and to Parliament’s Secretariat.
The evaluation has shown that several significant reforms need to be made by AWEPA/AEI, but there is no
finding of fraudulent use of funds. This conclusion confirms the results of the financial audit carried out in
1997 and the recommendations which are gradually being put into place.

The Commission has already taken steps to ensure that AWEPA fully respects all the conditions applicable to
the funds it has provided for specific projects to AWEPA/AEI. As is normal in this type of case, it will insist that
AWEPA takes on board the recommendations of the evaluation as a precondition to any further funding.

(1999/C 325/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3834/98

by Paul Rübig (PPE) to the Commission

(22 December 1998)

Subject: Impact of international financial turmoil on the European steel market : industrial policy

The international steel trade faces new challenges; three major regions of the world : Russia, South-East Asia
and Latin America : are facing economic problems. The consequences of this are twofold: the shift in
traditional trade flows has led to massive increases in imports into Europe, with a 520 % rise in imports from
Asia and a 109 % rise in imports from the USA in 1998, and the concentration of markets has resulted in a fall
in European exports, exacerbated by a tendency towards regional protectionism. European steel producers
have so far coped successfully with this development. What is now needed above all is some prospect of an
industrial policy for this sector.

What information is the Commission gathering for the European framework for the steel industry and its
structures? How can the competitiveness of the steel sector be improved?