WRITTEN QUESTION E-1173/00 by Malcolm Harbour (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Information society funding in the automotive sector.
Date: 2000-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, East Midlands, information technology, job creation, skilled worker

C 72 E/24

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

As already stated in its answer to PQ E-2635/99 (1) by the Honourable Member, the Commission is able to
provide the Honourable Member with the information requested for the period 1990-1999. The informa-
tion is hereby provided, as requested, broken down by year and presented in tabular form, as shown
below.

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

(€ million)

JOULE I
(Non-nuclear energy) (1)

89,8

26,7

6,6

JOULE II (Non-nuclear energy) (1)

(cid:129)

136,4

94,6

26,5

24,9

Promotional activities (RES) (1)

4th Framework PRG
(Non-nuclear energy) (1)

5th Framework PRG
(non-nuclear energy) (1)

Altener I B4-1030

Altener II B4-1030

313,3

163,5

266,5

260,1

5,0

10,0

13,0

10,2

8,6

211,6 (2)

11,0

15,4

Thermie B6-7151 (3)

6,6

35,7

35,0

35,2

46,6

Demonstration (Energy) (3)

2nd Framework PRG
(nuclear safety/fusion)

3rd Framework PRG
(fission/fusion)

4th Framework PRG
(fission/fusion)

5th Framework PRG
(fission/fusion)

Transport of radioactive
material B4-1020 (4)

Training
(Safeguards)

30,1

37,4

57,1

30,2

66,9

242,2

156,8

46,0

3,8

3,3

134,8

222,9

222,3

340,1

258,6

197,8

206,4

0,4

0,4

0,2

0,2

0,3

(cid:129)

(cid:129)

0,7

0,9

2,0

1,3

0,7

1,8

(cid:129)

0,1

237,8

0,5

1,1

(1)

(2)
(3)

(4)

Spending on renewable energy sources forms an integral part of the budget heading covering the R&TD programme for non-nuclear i.e. not exclusively renewable,
energy forms. Only in 1994 did the (cid:145)research(cid:146) budget have a distinct heading (cid:129) not linked to a programme (cid:129) for renewable energy sources. For the period
1995-1998 and for 1999, the figures mentioned include the demonstration part managed by the DG for Energy.
Payment of appropriations.
The figures provided concern only renewable energy sources (i.e. biomass, geothermal energy, hydroelectricity, solar, wind, renewables in buildings and integration of
renewable energies) and only demonstration projects; certain dissemination activities, including the activities of the OPET network relating to renewable sources of
energy, are not included in the above figures as these are not classified according to energy source.
Including the SURE Programme (1999).

(1) OJ C 225 E, 8.8.2000, p. 187.

(2001/C 72 E/027)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1173/00

by Malcolm Harbour (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Information society funding in the automotive sector

(12 April 2000)

In view of the restructuring taking place in the West Midlands car industry, as a result of the break up of
funding for
the Rover Group by BMW, could the Commission please consider providing special

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/25

information society projects to the West Midlands region (cid:129) focusing on activities where jobs could be
created for the skilled workforce now facing unemployment?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2000)

Support for economic development programmes under the European structural funds will be significant in
the West Midlands over the 2000-2006 period. The development of the information society is one of the
Commission(cid:146)s priorities following the e-Europe initiative launched at the Lisbon European Council and
permeates many of the European funding initiatives. The Commission will be seeking to ensure that in the
next generation of structural funds programmes for the region, the development of the information society
is properly taken on board, in line with the e-Europe initiative.

First, a large part of the West Midlands region is eligible for structural fund support under the headings of
Objective 2 and Objective 2 Phasing-out. With an allocation of over 850 M€, the West Midlands
programme will be the biggest in the United Kingdom under Objective 2 in the 2000-2006 period.

(2) creating a learning and skilful region;

The West Midlands Objective 2 development plan has recently been submitted by the authorities in the
Member State to the Commission and identifies the following four priorities: (1) developing a diverse and
dynamic business base;
(3) creating the infrastructure and
conditions for growth; (4) regenerating communities. Support for innovation and the development of the
information society will be one of the cross-cutting themes of the programme. Within these priorities, the
following activities may be envisaged: support for training in the use of and the promotion of information
and communications technology; support for high technology SMEs including specialist business support;
and start up capital through grants, loans or equity financing. The draft plan underlines the need to create
jobs and assesses each of the proposed priorities identified above in terms of the creation of new jobs.

Secondly, the West Midlands will receive a share of the Objective 3 programme worth € 4 500 million in
total
in the United Kingdom. Together with Objective 2, this funding can be used to support the
redeployment of the skilled personnel previously employed in the car industry.

In addition to these amounts, the West Midlands could also receive support for innovative projects
including more in the field of the information society. The Commission is currently developing a set of
guidelines in relation to these actions.

(2001/C 72 E/028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1174/00

by Malcolm Harbour (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(12 April 2000)

Subject: Research in the automotive sector

In view of the restructuring taking place in the West Midlands car industry, as a result of the break up of
the Rover Group by BMW, could the Commission please indicate:

1. The status of current research projects into new automobile technologies?

2. The possibilities of advancing promising new technologies through a special programme of start-up

funding for new enterprises based in the West Midlands?

3. Whether it could make special funding available, in recognition of the severe unemployment problem

among skilled automotive technicians resulting from the Rover break-up?