WRITTEN QUESTION E-1360/00 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. High-speed rail link between Galicia and Madrid.
Date: 2000-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community of Madrid, Galicia, high-speed transport, operational programme, rail network, rail transport, trans-European network

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/31

In the absence of detailed information permitting it to examine the actual situation in depth it cannot say
whether an arbitration mechanism for regulating such conflicts exists, and can therefore only ask him to
provide further information.

(2001/C 81 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1359/00

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: Grouping together of Ceuta and Melilla in the Eurostat index for the purposes of Objective 1

All regions with less than 75 % of Community GDP may be considered eligible for Objective 1.
In calculating the figures which determine whether a region qualifies for such status, the Spanish cities of
Ceuta and Melilla are generally grouped together as if they were a single economic, geographical or
administrative unit.

In fact, these two cities in North Africa do not constitute a unit in any of the above senses, and it does not
appear logical that they should be listed together in the context of the 75 % limit and included as such in
Objective 1.

Does the Commission take the view that the GDP of each of these Spanish cities should be listed separately
with a view to their inclusion among the Community regions eligible for assistance under Objective 1?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 June 2000)

Article 3 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on
the Structural Funds (1) stipulates that the regions covered by Objective 1 shall be level II regions of the
Nomenclature of Territorial Statistical Units (NUTS II) with a per capita gross domestic product (GDP),
measured in purchasing power parities and calculated on the basis of Community figures for the last
three years available on 26 March 1999, which is less than 75 % of the Community average.

Ceuta and Melilla form a single NUTS II region with a per capita GDP (using the figures mentioned in the
said Article 3) of 71,4 % of the Community average, and on that ground have Objective 1 eligibility for the
period 2000-2006.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 81 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1360/00

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: High-speed rail link between Galicia and Madrid

(4 May 2000)

In its reply to my questions Nos H-0456/99 (1), (E-1438/99) and (E-1440/99) (2) concerning Galicia and
high-speed rail
in the
Community guidelines on the trans european networks, there are no plans for a high-speed link between
Galicia and Central Spain.

links, which I tabled in September 1999, the Commission acknowledged that,

C 81 E/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

There is apparently a contradiction between the statements made to the press by representatives of the
Galician Government and the information given by the Commission to the European Parliament. The
Galician minister for public works has stated that (cid:145)the regional government has received financial support
from the EU and a commitment from the Spanish Government to the effect that, in 2007, the cities of
La Coruna and Vigo will be linked with Madrid via Valladolid by means of a high-speed train(cid:146). In other
statements, representatives of the Galician regional government have promised that, by 2007, the journey
will take only four and half hours, thanks to EU investment.

The rail link between Galicia and Central Spain is so dated that, these days, trains take between 8 and
12 hours to cover the distance between Galicia and Madrid (at least 8,05 hours from Vigo, 8,35 hours
from La Coruna, 9,40 hours from Lugo and 12 hours from Ferrol) which works out at an average speed
of 70 km per hour. In the words of the Commissioner responsible for transport (cid:145)the decision to construct
a high-speed rail link between Galicia and Madrid via Valladolid and the related planning are essentially the
responsibility of the Spanish Government, in accordance with the subsidiarity principle(cid:146). In the last quarter
of 1999 the Spanish Government submitted its proposal for a Community Support Framework to the
Commission.

Is the Commission able to confirm that,
in 2007, Galicia will be linked to the major European
infrastructure networks? Has the Spanish Government now made up for its delay in submitting an
operational programme containing greater details regarding its proposals for the next seven years? If so,
can the Commission confirm that, in 2007, a high-speed rail link, similar to the AEV which links Madrid
with Seville or to the one which is being built between Madrid and Barcelona, will reach as far as Galicia?

(1) European Parliament debates (September 1999).
(2) OJ C 170 E, 20.6.2000, p. 15.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

On 29 October 1999 the Spanish Government submitted its regional development plan for the Spanish
regions eligible under Objective 1 during the 2000-2006 programming period to the Commission. This
plan mentions the poor rail links between Galicia and the centre of the Iberian Peninsula and proposes
improving the rail network and train services between Galicia and Madrid, but without giving any details
of the actual measures involved.

Although the Commission considers that measures to solve this problem could be included in the 2000-
2006 Community support framework (CSF) for the Spanish Objective 1 regions, it cannot commit itself at
this stage since negotiations with the Spanish authorities started on 4 May 2000 and are still continuing.

On 28 April 2000 the Commission also received the operational programme for Galicia for the 2000-
2006 programming period from the Spanish authorities and is currently deciding whether to accept it.

(2001/C 81 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1367/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: CAM-Albania report on humanitarian aid to Kosovo

(4 May 2000)

On 1 March 2000 the CAM-Albania (Customs Assistance Mission) forwarded to the Commission(cid:146)s DG XXI
(Customs and Excise Service) a detailed report on humanitarian aid shipped via Albania to Kosovo during
last year(cid:146)s war. The report draws attention to two types of fraud. In the first instance, goods were passed
off as humanitarian aid when they were not and in the second genuine humanitarian aid was not used for
its intended purpose once it had passed through customs but was distributed and sold on the black
market. In both cases smuggling offences were committed.