WRITTEN QUESTION E-0265/00 by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission. Observatory for cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation.
Date: 2000-02-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Canary Islands, EU office or agency, EU regional policy, seat of institution

C 374 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.12.2000

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2000)

The Commission is currently not undertaking any work on so-called (cid:145)light pollution(cid:146) around large cities in
the Community. Insofar as (cid:145)light pollution(cid:146) is a problem, solutions need to take into account other factors
such as safety and security. This could best be done at the local level given differing circumstances in line
with the principle of subsidiarity.

The Commission is very much aware that the wasteful and inefficient use of energy for lighting, including
public lighting, and the associated greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production and use of this
energy from fossil fuels can contribute to global warming. In the framework of the SAVE programme the
Commission has taken a number of initiatives to promote more energy efficient lighting technologies and
reduced energy use for lighting in buildings. These initiatives range from minimum efficiency standards for
ballasts for fluorescent lighting to voluntary programmes such as the Greenlight programme aimed at
encouraging public and private companies to install energy efficient lighting technologies. In many of these
initiatives the Commission is working closely with national energy agencies which can provide appropriate
technical support. Technologies are also being developed by European industry for public lighting that can
reduce considerably the amount of energy used by such installations. To stimulate the market for these
technologies, the Commission has recently issued a mandate to the European standardisation bodies.

(2000/C 374 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0265/00

by Isidoro SÆnchez Garc(cid:237)a (ELDR) to the Commission

(7 February 2000)

Subject: Observatory for cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation

In the Commission(cid:146)s Communication to the European Parliament on guidelines for a Community Initiative
concerning trans-European cooperation intended to encourage harmonious and balanced development of
the European territory (Interreg), mention is made of an Observatory for cross-border, transnational and
interregional cooperation.

On the basis of their socio-economic characteristics and their geo-strategic situation as a remote region in
the Atlantic, what chances to the Canary Islands have of being selected as the site for the Observatory?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 March 2000)

The Commission has not yet taken a decision regarding the location of the future Observatory for cross-
border, transnational and interregional cooperation. However, it ought to be pointed out that this will not
be a body of any significant size whose headquarters site would require discussion at all.

(2000/C 374 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0280/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 February 2000)

Subject: Directive on renewable energy

The Commission has repeatedly failed to submit a proposal for a directive on access for producers of
renewable energy to the internal market in electricity, since no dialogue has been entered into with the