WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/99 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding of programmes in the field of energy under the Fifth framework programme for research.
Date: 1999-11-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU research policy, energy research, interinstitutional cooperation (EU), renewable energy

C 203 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

How many of the projects selected are concerned with literature in Galician? What are they, and how
much budgetary funding are they to receive?

With regard to 1997 and 1998, how many works in Galician were subsidised under the Ariane
programme, and what was the total number of literature subsidised? What were they, and how much
funding did they receive? What was the final figure for total Ariane expenditure for 1997 and 1998?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(21 December 1999)

In 1999 the total budget allocated to the Ariane programme was € 4,1 million. 12 projects involving
translation of French and English literature into Galician were submitted. Eleven of them did not get past
the preselection stage, as they did not comply with certain eligibility criteria listed in the Official Journal (1),
while one project, although it passed the Commission(cid:146)s formal preselection scrutiny, was not included
among the final choice of projects accepted. The limited financial resources were sufficient only to cover
the projects with the greatest literary and cultural merits in the view of the group of independent experts
from several Member States and member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the
European Economic Area (EEA), who assisted the Commission with the selection of projects.

In 1998 (when the total budget allocated to the programme was ECU 3,3 million), no projects involving
translation of works of literature into Galician were submitted.

In 1997 (when the total budget allocated to the programme was ECU 2,3 million), one project involving
translation of a French literary work into Galician was presented and selected. This was an application for
funding to cover translation into Galician of (cid:145)Les Mots(cid:146) by J.P. Sartre, submitted by Ediciones Laiovento, to
whom a grant for the full amount requested (ECU 2 418) was awarded.

(1) OJ C 23, 28.1.1999.

(2000/C 203 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/99

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Funding of programmes in the field of energy under the Fifth framework programme for research

According to information received by some Finnish firms, the Commission has adopted a different position
from Parliament and the Council on the funding of programmes in the field of energy in the context of the
Fifth framework programme for research.

Under the common position agreed upon last December by Parliament and the Council, (cid:145)demonstration
projects(cid:146) are accorded a central role in research policy. Initially 75 % of the funding was reserved for them.
However, what is now happening in practice is that the Commission is outlining a paltry level of funding
for demonstration projects in relation to other research projects.

Is the Commission adopting a different position from the European Parliament and the Council on the
funding of demonstration projects in the energy field within the Fifth research framework programme, and
if so, why?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 December 1999)

The Commission would first clarify the interpretation of the remarks made by the Council and Parliament
on the 1999 budget for the Fifth research and technological development (RDT) framework programme (1).

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/145

In its commentary, the budgetary authority, at the initiative of the Parliament, requested that 60 % of
credits for non-nuclear energy should be allocated to renewable energies, of which 75 % should be
allocated to renewable demonstration projects.

The Commission agrees that there is an urgent need to encourage the demonstration of solutions which
favour the use of innovative renewable energy resources and would like to satisfy the commentary as far as
practicable. The first call for proposals for the Energy programme (energy component of the energy,
environment and sustainable development specific RDT programme) duly gave considerable prominence to
demonstration projects and renewable energies.

In selecting the final list of projects for which an immediate start to negotiations is recommended, the
Commission has taken the budget commentary into account. The Commission has done its utmost to
satisfy the commentary and a large number of demonstration projects in the renewables sector has been
selected. The final decision on 1999 projects has not yet been made but the Commission proposal is very
close to the budget commentary.

(1) OJ C 173, 7.6.1997.

(2000/C 203 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2154/99

by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission

(24 November 1999)

Subject: Regionalisation of the Italian State Corps of Foresters

In Italy, conservation of woodlands and natural resources is the responsibility of a police force, the State
Corps of Foresters. Law 59/97, however, stipulates that members of the corps are to be transferred to the
service of the regions if they are not needed in order to carry out the tasks still incumbent on the State.
Although it has been estimated that very substantial manpower is required to enable the State to perform
its role, about 70 % of the personnel concerned have nevertheless been transferred to the service of the
regions.

importance of environmental protection and the body of
Given the international as well as national
expertise built up by the Corps of Foresters, which is the only means of ensuring compliance with
Community environmental regulations and which is in danger of losing its cohesion, would the Com-
mission state:

1. whether it considers that the transfer of responsibilities to the regions will greatly weaken the

efficiency of the State Corps of Foresters and severely damage environmental protection;

2. whether it has drawn up any documents on the subject;

3.

its general views on the matter;

4. what forms of organisation are laid down for similar forces in other Member States?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1999)

The organisation of the national administration is strictly a matter for the Member State. The Commission
considers that the regionalisation of certain tasks does not necessarily involve any reduction in their
effectiveness, but that it requires in certain cases a strengthening of coordination between the regions and
the Member State.

The Commission is not in a position to give an exact description of the organisation of similar services in
other Member States. Several situations can arise, from complete decentralisation as, for example, in the
management of
to
responsibility at provincial, departmental, regional or national level.

in some Member States,

is at municipality level,

fire prevention which,

forest