WRITTEN QUESTION E-1459/00 by Marianne Thyssen (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The European JOB and ECIP programmes.
Date: 2000-05-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, European undertaking, consortium, transnational corporation

C 53 E/146

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

(cid:129) Say what the results of the survey of all the Member States was?

(cid:129) Give its definitive opinion on the consistency of such extensions with Community law in general and

Directives 92/50/EEC, 93/37/EEC and 89/440/EEC in particular?

(1) OJ C 225 E, 8.8.2000, p. 88.
(2) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 199, 9.8.1993, p. 54.
(4) OJ L 210, 21.7.1989, p. 1.

Answer by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2000)

The proceedings currently under way involving Italy with regard to motorway licences concern the
construction of the Venice-Mestre section, the (cid:145)Tibre(cid:146) section and the Asti-Cuneo link.

At the meeting held in December 1999, the Commission again asked the Italian authorities for informa-
tion concerning the proceedings that were under way. The information that was subsequently provided is
now being studied by the Commission as part of the horizontal study covering all Member States.

The Commission does not yet have all the information that is needed to make a final judgement on the
problems in connection with the arrangements for awarding motorway licences in the Member States, and
it is currently drawing up a general review of the facts that will allow it to make the appropriate legal
assessment.

(2001/C 53 E/187)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1459/00

by Marianne Thyssen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: The European JOB and ECIP programmes

The ECIP and JOB financial instruments, the aim of which was to stimulate the internationalisation of
European SMEs through joint ventures, have been very successful in the past.

The intermediary financial
programmes are to be stopped. No provision is being made for a replacement programme.

institutions have recently been informed by the Commission that

these

This is highly regrettable, particularly in the case of the JOB programme, which is geared to joint ventures
with undertakings in Eastern European candidate countries.

1.

Can the Commission say why these two programmes are being stopped?

2.

Can the Commission say if it has taken measures to ensure the completion of current projects?

Can the Commission say what it plans to do with the JEV programme, which is designed to stimulate

3.
joint ventures between small and medium-sized enterprises in the European Union?

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/147

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2000)

1.
The Commission can confirm that it has decided to stop the JOP (Joint Venture Programme (cid:129)
PHARE/TACIS) and ECIP (European Community Investment Partners) programmes. This decision was
taken in view of the new guidelines for PHARE (1) in the context of accession to the EU (cid:129) i.e. the
decentralisation of management (cid:129) and the rising and excessive administrative cost of the Commission(cid:146)s
direct management of individual projects.

2.
The financial intermediaries had been notified of the decision to stop the JOP programme at the
meeting of the network in Luxembourg on 20 October 1999. In order to ensure the best possible
conditions for closing the JOP programme, the Commission had authorised the submission of new
applications for funding up until 6 March 2000. However, current projects for which additional funding
under the programme(cid:146)s (cid:145)Facility 3(cid:146) is envisaged will be taken into consideration until 30 September 2000.
A new budget will therefore be provided to ensure that all these final projects are completed.

With regard to the ECIP programme, Council Regulation (EC) No 213/96 of 29 January 1996 (2), which
formed the legal basis allowing the Commission to manage the ECIP financial instrument, expired on
31 December 1999. On 22 December 1999, the Commission decided not to propose to the Council and
the Parliament that the validity of this Regulation be extended and therefore that the ECIP programme
would not continue beyond 31 December 1999. Despite the success of this programme throughout the
years, the rationalisation of certain Commission policies and the reform and simplification of adminis-
trative tasks made it necessary to take this decision.

The financial
intermediaries were notified on 14 January 2000 that the ECIP programme would be
stopped. In order to ensure that this happened under the best possible conditions, on 31 January 2000 (3)
the Commission made a proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council
regarding the closure and liquidation of projects adopted by the Commission under Council Regulation
(EC) No 213/96.

The Commission does not intend to renew the Joint European Venture (JEV) programme when the

3.
current programme expires.

(1) PHARE: Action plan for coordinated aid to Poland and Hungary (cid:129) aid for restructuring the economy.
(2) The Regulation on the implementation of the (cid:145)EC Investment Partners(cid:146) financial instrument for the countries of

Latin America, Asia, the Mediterranean region and South Africa (OJ L 28, 6.2.1996).

(3) COM(1999) 726 final.

(2001/C 53 E/188)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1462/00

by Jillian Evans (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(10 May 2000)

Subject: Effects on health of calcium sulphate

What information does the Commission have on the long term effects of exposure to calcium sulphate on
human health and what measures if any have been taken to minimise the risks of exposure?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Calcium sulphate is a chemical compound which is used in many different areas. It is mainly used in the
production of cement and as a building material. The substance has an irritating effect on air passages and
eyes. Little is known of the long-term harmful effects. The exposure of workers to dangerous chemicals is
covered by Council Directive 98/24/EC of 7 April 1998, on the protection of the health and safety of
workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work (1) which provides for specific prevention
measures based on risk assessment.