WRITTEN QUESTION E-0465/00 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Commission policy on implementation of the EU budget for 2000 in respect of the promotion and safeguard of regional and minority languages.
Date: 2000-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, minority language, regional language

28.12.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 374 E/81

(2000/C 374 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0463/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Legal challenges to the extension of An Post(cid:146)s contract to issue social welfare payments in Ireland

Bearing in mind the legal challenges made by a firm of Dublin-based solicitors (1) to the extension of
An Post(cid:146)s contract to issue social welfare payments in Ireland, and the importance of such a service to the
viability of rural post offices and rural communities, would the Commission outline the current status of
the legal challenges, give an approximate date when the proceedings will be concluded, and make a
statement on the matter?

(1) McCann Fitzgerald Solicitors, on behalf of Transaction Network Services, Dublin.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2000)

The Commission has received a complaint pursuant to Article 86 (ex-Article 90) in conjunction with
Articles 43, 49 and 82 (ex-Articles 52, 59 and 86) of the EC Treaty. The complaint is directed against the
decision of the Irish Government to extend the existing contract for the delivery of payment services for
social welfare payments in Ireland held by An Post, the state owned monopoly provider of postal services,
for a further three year period, starting as from 1 January 2000. The complaint raises both competition
aspects and internal market aspects.

The Commission has not yet taken a position on the complaint. To that end further information is
required and the Commission has therefore sent recently a request
for information both to the
complainant and to the Irish Government.

Depending on the information provided by the parties the outcome of the case may either be a letter of
formal notice to the Irish Government or a rejection of the complaint. The Commission will take action
without undue delay after receipt of the requested information.

(2000/C 374 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0465/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Commission policy on implementation of the EU budget for 2000 in respect of the promotion

and safeguard of regional and minority languages

The two EU budgetary authorities, Parliament and the Council, have decided to set aside a number of
for 2000 to promote and safeguard regional and minority
headings under the Community budget
languages.

To be more precise, it has been indicated that line B3-1000 (Cooperation in the fields of education and of
youth policy), to which the sum of EUR 4,5 million has been earmarked, aims in particular to support
actions to promote and safeguard minority languages in the Community.

Will the Commission say exactly how much of the sum of EUR 4,5 million is to be earmarked for the
protection and safeguard of minority languages in the Community?

What procedure will it be pursuing with a view to implementing the aforementioned budget line?

When does it intend to begin accepting applications for specific projects which may be eligible for funding
to promote and safeguard minority languages?

C 374 E/82

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

28.12.2000

What will be the guidelines and requirements governing the eligibility of projects for Community funding?

When can the selected projects hope to receive the Community funding allocated to them?

(2000/C 374 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0478/00

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2000)

Subject: Preparation by the European Commission of the proposed legal basis for the Archipelago action

programme on the minority and regional languages of the EU

The European Commission is drawing up a legislative proposal to provide a legal basis (and, consequently,
funding from the Community budget)
for a Community action programme for the protection and
promotion of the minority and regional languages of the European Community. The European Union
has also set aside funding from the 2000 budget for a series of preparatory initiatives to promote minority
and regional languages.

In the light of the above, and given the need to finalise as quickly as possible the legislative procedure for
the adoption of the legal basis, both in order to ensure the continuity and stability of the projects that are
part of the preparatory initiatives for 2000, and to guarantee and enhance the promotion and protection
of the regional and minority languages of the EU over the coming years, will the Commission give details
of the approximate timetable for this legislative procedure and, more specifically, when the proposal will
reach the EP?

Will the Commission give details of the general principles of the proposal and, specifically, the total
amount and duration of Community funding proposed?

On what Treaty provisions is the Commission basing this procedure?

Could the Commission define the concept of a minority or regional language as eligible for funding under
the forthcoming action programme?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0465/00 and E-0478/00
given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2000)

Budget heading B3-1000, entitled (cid:145)Cooperation in the fields of education and of youth policy(cid:146) covers a
(cid:145)to support measures to
total sum of € 4,5 million. This amount is intended, amongst other things,
promote and safeguard the regional and minority languages and cultures of
the Community(cid:146). The
Commission has earmarked a total of € 2,5 million for this purpose, as was stated in the preliminary
draft budget presented to the Council and the Parliament.

To this end, the Commission plans to publish a call for proposals as soon as possible, the text of which it
is currently finalising. All the criteria for the presentation and selection of the proposals will be stated in
the call. The Honourable Member will be notified directly as soon as the full picture becomes clear.

The Commission is also examining the case for a specific study on the needs of the Union(cid:146)s linguistic
minorities that would complement the information already available on this subject.