WRITTEN QUESTION E-0369/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Socio-economic impact of the initiative on employment.
Date: 2000-02-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU employment policy, EU initiative, distribution of EU funding, job creation

C 374 E/60

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.12.2000

(2000/C 374 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0369/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Socio-economic impact of the initiative on employment

The Luxembourg extraordinary summit of November 1997 launched an initiative on employment to be
implemented over three years with a budget of c. EUR 450 million. It was incorporated into chapter B5.5
of the Community budget, in the shape of support measures for SMEs and innovatory labour market
initiatives.

Can the Commission say:

(cid:129) What is the breakdown by Member States of the allocation of the amounts entered under each

heading of chapter B5.5?

(cid:129) How many jobs did these measures create in the EU and in each Member State (bearing in mind that

the Commission made a similar assessment of the ELISE programme)?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(3 April 2000)

Following the Luxembourg extraordinary European Council on employment, the budgetary authority
created a new heading B5-5 (cid:145)Labour markets and technological innovation(cid:146) for the financing of € 450 mil-
lion over three years (1998-2000).

On the one hand, in 1998, three budget lines (B5-500, B5-5010 and B5-5020) earmarked € 30 million for
funding different activities related to the implementation of the employment title of the EC Treaty and, in
general, of the employment strategy. Such activities sought to identify and promote the exchange of good
practices between Member States and to support underpinning innovative actions and projects and
research related to Member States(cid:146) employment policies.

On the other hand, € 120 million was allocated to the growth and employment initiative, a programme of
financial assistance for innovative and job creating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To this
figure can be added an amount of € 5 million, corresponding to the Joint European Venture (JEV) pilot
action (B5-512). For the years 1999 and 2000 an amount of € 300 million was allocated to the growth
and employment initiative.

The growth and employment initiative includes three complementary facilities: a risk-capital scheme
European technology facility ((ETF) start-up) managed by the European investment fund (EIF), a scheme
for financial contributions supporting the creation of trans-national joint ventures by SMEs within the
Community (cid:129) JEV managed by the Commission and a guarantee scheme (SME Guarantee Facility)
managed by the EIF.

As far as the ETF start-up facility is concerned, the Commission has approved investment commitments to
nine funds, selected by the EIF for a total of up to € 54 million. The breakdown by Member State is shown
in Table 1 which is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Sercetariat.

As regards JEV, the Commission approved 65 projects: 53 joint venture projects and 12 promotion
facilities. The 53 joint venture projects involved 115 SMEs. The breakdown by Member State of the SMEs
involved in the projects and the foreseen location of the joint venture is shown in Table 2 which is sent
directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Sercetariat.

As regards the SME guarantee facility, the Commission has approved commitments to fifteen financial
intermediaries selected by the EIF for a total of up to € 90 million. The breakdown by Member State is
shown in Table 3 which is sent directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Sercetariat.

28.12.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 374 E/61

In relation to the ETF start-up facility, latest available figures show 49 Community SMEs have received an
investment from the funds participating in the facility. Detailed information on the employment creation
perspectives of the ETF start-up facility will become available in August 2000 when the EIF will have
received the first completed annual questionnaires from SMEs.

As far as JEV is concerned, it is too early to predict figures for job creation. The first stage of JEV support
is linked to a preparatory work phase and it is only thereafter that the SMEs will decide whether, and
under what conditions, the joint venture will be undertaken. Nevertheless, even in this very first phase,
SMEs have been asked to estimate the number of jobs that could be created. Based on this, for the 53 joint
venture projects approved and according to the declarations made by the applicants, the total job creation
could be 788 jobs (or an average of 15 jobs per project).

As regards the SME guarantee facility, latest available figures show 7 223 SMEs have benefited from the
SME guarantee facility and have declared that they have 32 869 employees. Also for this facility the SMEs
are required to estimate the number of jobs that should be created in the near future. Based on their
declaration, the total expected number of jobs one year after the signing of the loan agreement is 34 319,
i.e. an increase of 1 450 employees. This is expected to increase to 36 988 after another year, i.e. a further
increase of 2 669 employees. This would mean an overall increase of 13 % over two years.

(2000/C 374 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0373/00

by Andre Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 February 2000)

Subject: Release of EU Structural Fund monies on the basis of the designation of FFH areas (Directive

92/43/EEC) in East German L(cid:228)nder

Since Germany and some L(cid:228)nder have not yet transposed Council Directive 92/43/EEC (1) of 21 March
1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (FFH Directive), even those
German L(cid:228)nder that have met with this obligation are threatened with having EU Structural Fund monies
frozen. Mecklenburg-West Pomerania,
for instance, has in the meantime designated 136 FFH areas,
totalling 181 000 ha (7,9 % of its surface area). The Commission(cid:146)s announced stance would mean that, in
particular for the structurally weak East German L(cid:228)nder, the disbursement of funding for Objective 1
assistance and EAGGF funding would be at least delayed. In view of these regions(cid:146) serious economic and
social problems, there would be extremely adverse consequences.

What action does the Commission propose to take to prevent those East German L(cid:228)nder which have met
their obligation under the FFH Directive from being penalised for the failings of the Federal Government
and of other L(cid:228)nder?

Does the Commission think it necessary or possible to consider releasing aid funding on a Land-specific or
project-specific basis and to act accordingly?

Does the Commission realise that a negative decision not only would have a grave economic and social
impact, but would also to lasting damage to the population(cid:146)s commitment to environmental protection,
whereas a positive decision would unquestioningly also be interpreted as recognition of an active
environmental policy?

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2000)

the Natura 2000 list of sites of Community
As the Honourable Member is aware, completion of
importance, which also covers sites under Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and Council Directive of 2 April 1979 on
the conservation of wild birds (1) and which was to be drawn up by June 1998, was delayed by the fact
that several Member States, including Germany, failed to submit appropriate proposals. The deadline for
proposals elapsed in June 1995.