WRITTEN QUESTION P-0556/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Protocol on cooperation between the Aquitaine region, the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and the Autonomous Community of Navarre.
Date: 2000-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Aquitaine, Basque Country, EU programme, EU regional policy, France, Navarre, Spain, cross-border cooperation, regional cooperation

C 374 E/104

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.12.2000

pursued within the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). This regulatory framework has also allowed
procedures for joint certification and has become part of the Community order by means of Council
Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonization of technical requirements and
administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (1). At the same time, a level playing field has been
created for fair and equal competition of all actors in the Community. A proposal for the establishment of
a European organisation (EASA) which will build upon JAA to improve and reinforce it is now under
discussion within the Commission.

In the field of air traffic management, Eurocontrol develops standards and technical specifications aiming
essentially at ensuring interoperability and a seamless operation of national systems. Eurocontrol standards
become part of the Community order by means of Council Directive 93/65/EEC of 19 July 1993 on the
definition and use of compatible technical specifications for the procurement of air traffic management
equipment and systems (2). However, Eurocontrol work is mainly focused at system and air traffic control
(ATC) procedures standards and does not cover the full range of requirements related to ATC services, staff
and operations. This difference is partly explained by the lack of a European market for ATC and the
consequent prevalence of national arrangements, which show significant variations.

On the more specific question of common standards governing licences and certificates of competence for
air traffic controllers, Eurocontrol is working to introduce a harmonised scheme in the European Civil
Aviation Conference (ECAC) area. The Community is closely following this activity, which may lead to an
Community directive, as suggested by the Honourable Member.

(1) OJ L 373, 31.12.1991.
(2) OJ L 187, 29.7.1993.

(2000/C 374 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0556/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 February 2000)

Subject: Protocol on cooperation between the Aquitaine region, the Autonomous Community of the

Basque Country and the Autonomous Community of Navarre

In 1980 France and Spain signed an agreement in Bayonne, France, paving the way for regional cross-
border cooperation. On 3 October 1989,
in Bordeaux, the Autonomous Community of the Basque
Country and the Aquitaine region signed a protocol on cooperation formalising cross-border relations
between them. They were subsequently joined by the Autonomous Community of Navarre on 13 February
1992, when a new protocol was signed.

The objectives of that protocol are:

(cid:129) to exchange information and harmonise the policies pursued by the three regions to develop
infrastructure in the communications, training, economic, social, research and cultural fields, where
the said policies overlap;

(cid:129) to reach agreement on the framing and development of projects of joint interest; and

(cid:129) to foster cooperation between public-sector, professional and private-sector bodies in the three

regions.

On 25 January last the Government of the Autonomous Community of Navarre decided unilaterally to
withdraw from the protocol on cooperation, citing political differences of no relevance to issues in the
areas covered by the protocol.

Does the Commission believe that the development of cross-border cooperation between these three
regions could suffer as a result of this move, especially bearing in mind that the new Interreg Community
initiative will strengthen such cooperation? Will the Commission say whether the subsidies and aid
currently received by the Autonomous Community of Navarre for projects under the said protocol are
now in jeopardy?

28.12.2000

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 374 E/105

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(17 March 2000)

During the new programming period for the Structural Funds (2000-2006), the Interreg Community
Initiative will cover only projects which are of a genuine cross-border and transnational nature and which
form part of a cooperation programme drawn up jointly by the appropriate authorities on both sides of
the border.

this programme will have to be implemented by joint cooperation structures: a joint
In addition,
Monitoring Committee, steering committee and management/payment authority for the Member States
and frontier regions covered by the Interreg programme. The establishment of these joint cooperation
structures is therefore a condition for the implementation of Interreg and a condition of admissibility and
approval of the programme by the Commission.

In this context, it is clear that agreements and bilateral protocols of cooperation, such as the Bayonne
agreement mentioned by the Honourable Member, can prove very useful for the creation and consolida-
tion of the joint Interreg structures.

The France/Spain cross-border programme is currently being completed and is in no way affected by the
decisions taken by the government of the Comunidad Foral of Navarre. At this stage, it is not possible to
forecast how the new Interreg III Community Initiative will be implemented in these regions since the
Commission will soon adopt its guidelines on this topic. The Member States and regions concerned will
then be invited to prepare proposals for operational programmes.

(2000/C 374 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0557/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 February 2000)

Subject: Procedures for dismissals

In view of the Commission(cid:146)s reply to my Written Question E-2225/99 (1) that it had dismissed eleven
people in the last five years, does it take the view that its procedures for dismissal are (a) comparable with
those of other employers in the public and private sectors, and (b) adequate to deal with disciplinary
problems? If not, how does it intend to improve them?

(1) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000, p. 151.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2000)

The Commission draws the attention of
the disciplinary
procedures set out in the Staff Regulations and which allow inter alia, for dismissal of officials, apply to
all European Institutions.

the Honourable Member to the fact

that

The Commission is aware of the existence of a variety of different rules for disciplinary actions in Member
States(cid:146) civil services. In the course of preparing its consultative document on discipline and its draft
Decision on administrative improvements to disciplinary procedures, both scheduled for October 2000
(see Action Plan of 1 March 2000, action 57/58), the Commission will take into account best practices in
Member States and international organisations for dismissal procedures and for disciplinary procedures as
a whole. Disciplinary procedures in certain professions and administrations in the private sector may also
have relevance, in so far as they are comparable.

As the Commission made clear in the White Paper on (cid:145)Reforming the Commission(cid:146) (1)
(see Chapter
IV.5 (cid:145)Discipline(cid:146)) it is aware of the shortcomings of the current system which (cid:145)is too slow, has many layers
of procedure and is based around a disciplinary board that varies in composition and is purely internal.
Staff are not sufficiently well-informed about their obligations and the possible consequences of breaches
of the rules(cid:146). The Commission will make specific proposals for changing the Staff Regulations in order to