WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/99 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Support for action to combat drug dependence amongst young people.
Date: 2000-01-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: East Midlands, European social policy, United Kingdom, drug addiction, youth policy

C 303 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

The Czech Republic is not eligible for support for Interreg II, as this Community initiative only finances
expenditure incurred within Member States. Measures funded under this initiative are however closely co-
ordinated with PHARE activities. An indirect benefit is therefore derived by the Czech Republic, e.g.
through a reduction in pollution levels in its rivers, forests or air, through action taken under Interreg II on
the German or Austrian side of the border.

Finally the Czech Republic has benefited from various multi country programmes in the area of the
environment,
in particular the Black Triangle projects which focused mainly on small demonstration
projects aimed at improving the quality of the environment in the Czech and Polish part of the Black
Triangle.

(2000/C 303 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2746/99

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) and Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Appointment of a Greek Director-General at the Commission

(18 January 2000)

The Commission is responsible for 36 Directorates-General and departments. Following the recent changes
nationals of the following Member States have been appointed to head them: United Kingdom (eight),
France (seven), Germany (six), Italy (four), Denmark (three), Spain (two), Netherlands (one), Sweden (one),
Finland (one), Belgium (one) and Luxembourg (one). As of 1 January 2000 there will be no Director-
General or Head of any of these 36 important departments from Greece (or two other small countries),
although there was Greek representation until the only Greek Director-General, Mr Spyros Pappas, was
removed (cid:129) somewhat unjustifiably, as it turns out.

Can the Commission explain this unfair treatment, which discriminates against Greece, Portugal and
Ireland and favours certain large countries, particularly the United Kingdom? Can it state whether there
will be a Greek Director-General or Head of any of its Directorates-General or departments in the
immediate future, and if so, to which of them the person concerned will be appointed?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 2000)

The Commission has taken note of the concern expressed by the Honourable Members, although it would
not be accurate to say that any treatment of the issues raised in their question has been unfair or
discriminatory.

The Commission reaffirms its ambition, reflected in its decision of 8 December 1999 on appointments to
senior management posts in the Commission, to make appointments on merit whilst maintaining a broad
balance of all Member States(cid:146) nationalities at all levels of staff within the Institution in order to ensure the
essential cultural diversity and cohesion of the European public service. To this end, the Commission has
specifically stated its desire that suitably qualified civil servants from each Member State nationality are
appointed at Grade A1 level as Director-Generals, Heads of Department or similar.

In the very nature of civil service appointments systems in all Institutions, the Commission is never in a
position to state which person from which nationality will be appointed to which head of service position
before the conclusion of the appropriate appointments procedures.

(2000/C 303 E/100)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/99

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Support for action to combat drug dependence amongst young people

Rural east Northamptonshire is a relatively prosperous area of the East Midlands but it has a substantial
problem with youth drug abuse. The British Government has chosen not to include the county in its

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/105

proposals for the allocation of structural funds and the money available through the EU Action Plan on
Drug Dependence is apparently allocated to large-scale professional projects with an EU dimension.

Therefore, what practical support, financial or otherwise, can the Commission offer to a group of local
residents who are committed to tackling this serious and growing problem?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 2000)

The Commission acknowledges the fact that local communities form an important resource in any effort
to tackle the drugs problem. Perhaps the best possibility for local residents of rural East Northamptonshire
to receive practical support for their activities would be to contact a national organisation like e.g. ADFAM
(National Helpline for Families and Friends of Drug Users). They can share their experience with the local
people and provide them with contact information on similar kinds of projects elsewhere in Europe.

ADFAM is a member of a network of European Drug Helplines financed by the European Community
Programme for drug prevention. This programme has been the main source of Community funding for
drug prevention in 1996-2000. The programme has funded the setting up and practical work of many of
these European networks as well as prevention projects with a European dimension. Many networks offer
useful advice and support for local level activities. They also share information on experience on best
practices in drug prevention. At the moment, the Commission is investigating possibilities to prolong the
Drug Community Programme for drug prevention by two years.

Information on evaluated European drug demand reduction projects is also available in the Internet
through the web site of the European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (http://www.emcd-
da.org/). This offers a valuable tool for learning from experience of similar kinds of projects elsewhere in
the Community.

Innovative projects with a high degree of local community involvement are also being funded through the
Community initiative employment (e.g. Integra and Youthstart). The Employment initiative aims at helping
people with special difficulties in finding or keeping a suitable job. Although the Employment initiative is
not drug specific, the projects funded do often have a strong preventive influence. The majority of
Employment projects are coming to an end in the course of the year 2000. The preventive and innovative
approach will however be pursued in the new Community initiative EQUAL for the period 2000(cid:141)2006.
Project information can be found on the Employment web site www.europs.be.

(2000/C 303 E/101)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2757/99

by Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 January 2000)

Subject: Administrative simplification

On 29 April 1999 the Commission submitted to the Council an action plan, which was supported by all
the Member States, to improve the administrative environment for business and remove the unnecessary
burdens hampering the competitiveness of European undertakings.

Can the Commission say what response its initiative has received in the various Member States? What
specific measures has it adopted to improve the competitiveness of undertakings?