WRITTEN QUESTION E-0827/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. EUR 2 million reduction in the Poseima programme.
Date: 2000-03-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Azores, EU programme, Madeira, budgetary assessment, peripheral region, use of aid

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28.12.2000

being required to undertake to employ, for the implementation of the contract, a number or percentage of
disabled workers in accordance with the rules on transparency and non-discrimination regarding nation-
ality. Furthermore, as the Commission pointed out in its above-mentioned communication, the rules in the
directives on public works contracts allow applicants that contravene legislation on social matters to be
excluded.

During the preparatory work for Council Directive 93/37/EEC of 14 June 1993 concerning the co-
ordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, the Member States specifically expressed
their opposition to the introduction of criteria which were not strictly economic for the award of
contracts.

The Commission announced in the above-mentioned communication its intention to adopt an explanatory
communication on the social aspects of public works contracts. The purpose of this will be to clarify the
principles applicable when social objectives are taken into account in the field of public works contracts
and the conditions under which pursuit of this type of objective is compatible with the principles and rules
of Community law on public works contracts.

(1) COM(98) 143.

(2000/C 374 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0827/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: EUR 2 million reduction in the Poseima programme

(21 March 2000)

In his answer to question E-2403/99 (1) on the EUR 2 million cutback in the Poseima programme under
budget heading B1-321 Commissioner Fischler said that the proposed reduction is merely the result of
taking into account, in the estimates, the actual percentage of take-up of the budgetary allocation over the
last few years. However, according to figures for 1998/1999 this does not appear to be the case.

Can the Commission therefore say:

1. What actual amounts for the implementation of the Poseima programme were taken up overall by the
Autonomous Region of the Azores and the Autonomous Region of Madeira in 1998 and 1999?

2. Whether it intends to revise its position for the 2001 budget?

3. What actual amounts and were used in implementing the Poseidom and Poseidom programmes?

(1) OJ C 225 E, 8.8.2000, p. 125.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 April 2000)

The Commission can confirm the
Ms Figueiredo (1).

answer

already given to Written Question E-2403/99 by

Although the appropriations for 2000 were established before the end of 1999, it must be stressed that,
while the overall expenditure of the Poseima programme in 2000 (€ 40,5 million) corresponded to the
appropriations allocated (€ 40 million), this was due solely to the increase for (cid:145)other measures(cid:146), which are,
in any case, extremely volatile. In fact implementation of the supply balances stood at 81 %.

Implementation of the Poseima programme in 1998 and 1999 was respectively 73 % and 81 % for
1.
the supply balances and 84 % and 131 % for the other measures. Average percentages over the last five
years are 71 % for the supply balances and 89 % for the other measures.

In its estimates for the establishment of the 2001 budget, the Commission will take account, as in

2.
the past, of the most recent outturns available, thus including 1999.

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3.

a)

b)

Average implementation of Poseidom and Poseican programmes, over the last five years were:

Poseidom: supply 70 % (cid:129) other measures 69 % (cid:129) total 70 %

Poseican: supply 98 % (cid:129) other measures 61 % (cid:129) total 86 %.

These outturns (actual expenditure as a percentage of the appropriations provided) are based on budgetary
data. Detailed quantitative data and data for each measure will be presented soon in the Commission
Reports to the Council and to Parliament on the implementation of these programmes.

(1) OJ C 225 E, 8.8.2000, p. 125.

(2000/C 374 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0836/00

by Anna Karamanou (PSE) to the Commission

(21 March 2000)

Subject: Environmental damage inflicted on the Danube and neighbouring regions by NATO bombing

The Romanian Minister for the Environment has alleged that the Danube has suffered greater environ-
mental damage from NATO bombing which destroyed bridges, oil refineries and chemicals plants than
from the recent cyanide spill. The environmental, economic and cultural damage to the Danube and the
local population extends beyond Serbia and affects all the regions through which the Danube flows and
will have distressing consequences for many years to come.

Will the Commission say whether it is aware of the extent of the damage and, if so, what measures it
proposes to assist the countries concerned, so that the environment, the economy and the culture of this
sensitive region rapidly recover?

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

(18 April 2000)

During the Kosovo conflict the Commission financed a preliminary assessment of the environmental
impact of the conflict. This was performed by the Regional environment centre (REC) for Central and
Eastern Europe and is available on their Internet site (http://www.rec.org). A further, more detailed
assessment of
the war was performed by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) Balkan Task Force and is also available at their site on the Internet
(http://www.grid.unep.ch). Both reports concluded that the Kosovo conflict did not cause an environmental
catastrophe affecting the Balkan region as a whole.

the environmental consequences of

Looking ahead, the Commission is supporting a regional environmental reconstruction programme in the
framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe that will assist in environmental reconstruction
and capacity building across the Balkan Region as a whole.

(2000/C 374 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0841/00

by Ioannis Mar(cid:237)nos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(21 March 2000)

Subject: Community legislation on the internal market and its transposition into national legislation

The Commission has correctly pointed out that the transposition of the rules governing the internal
market into the legislation of the Member States is essential if the common market is to function properly.