WRITTEN QUESTION P-0805/00 by Othmar Karas (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funds for the Prince Programme ‐ information campaign about the euro.
Date: 2000-03-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, EU programme, France, Ireland, Netherlands, United Kingdom, euro, public awareness campaign, use of aid

C 303 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

(2000/C 303 E/242)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0805/00

by Othmar Karas (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2000)

Subject: Funds for the Prince Programme (cid:129) information campaign about the euro

Over the last two years, the appropriations allocated for the information programme for European citizens
have not been fully utilised. A commitment appropriation of EUR 38 million was entered in the 1999
budget, but only EUR 35,1 million was actually committed. Given that the level of information and
knowledge of
the
appropriations available is quite incomprehensible and regrettable and prompts several questions.

the euro is totally inadequate,

the average citizen about

the failure to use all

Why was the appropriation entered against Article B3-306 not fully utilised, although Eurobarometer
statistics relating to businesses and to the general public, especially disadvantaged groups, show a more
than negligible need to give a boost to preparations for the changeover? What areas suffered from the cuts
in expenditure: cofinancing of national campaigns or the Europe-wide campaign to be carried out by the
Commission? What kind of expenditure was not made? What reasons are given for the failure to use all
the appropriations?

Have many Member States not taken up the appropriations available to them? If so, which ones?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(4 April 2000)

In the 1999 budget, a total of € 38 million was earmarked for two priority measures: € 35,1 for the
programme (cid:145)The euro, a currency for Europe(cid:146) and € 2,9 million for Agenda 2000.

As far as the euro is concerned, the Commission implemented its initial plan, and 98,6 % of the funds for
1999 were committed, compared with 99,9 % in 1998.

Regarding Agenda 2000, the Member States, with the exception of France and to a lesser extent the
Netherlands and Ireland, opted not to enter into agreements with the Commission. For this reason the
funds initially allocated were not fully used up.

Under its programme (cid:145)The euro, a currency for Europe(cid:146), the Commission has established bilateral partner-
ships with 13 Member States. For their own internal reasons, the United Kingdom and Denmark decided
not to make use of this option.

(2000/C 303 E/243)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0949/00

by Marie-Noºlle Lienemann (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Large-scale redundancies in the ABB-Alsthom Group

(29 March 2000)

Can the Commission verify whether the procedure followed by ABB-Alsthom Power with regard to its
expected redundancies in many EU countries complies with Community law? Can it also take action to
prevent these redundancies?

Most of these redundancies are not really based on true industrial requirements and pose huge social
problems. Worse still, however, is the fact that the decisions have been taken without any form of dialogue
or negotiation with the trade unions and the European works councils.

It appears that the EU directive on European works councils is unsuitable for two-company mergers,
especially when the merger is on a 50-50 basis, and does not guarantee that workers will be consulted
when facing post-merger redundancies.