WRITTEN QUESTION E-1491/00 by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Reimbursement of expenses for group meetings or party conferences incurred by members of the Committee of the Regions.
Date: 2000-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Committee of the Regions, allowances and expenses, freight rate, indemnification, political group, political parties, redemption

C 81 E/46

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Answer given Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

In reply to the question from the Honourable Member, the Commission has obtained the following
information from the Committee of the Regions:

1. and 3. There are no statutory requirements concerning the final recipient of the payments, either
before 1997 or from 2000. Members of the Committee of the Regions individually receive repayment
of expenses they have incurred. The repayment is made either to a bank account notified by the
member to the Committee, or, if a member so requests, via the administration which they represent.

2. Up to 31 December 1999, several forms of payment were possible (such as a cheque or a bank

transfer). From 1 January 2000, payments are made only by bank transfer.

4. The decision of the Committee of the Regions on the repayment of travel and accommodation
expenses has been amended twice (31 March 1999 and 1 April 2000),
to improve payment
procedures, especially payment by bank transfer and bring it into line with the new rules of procedure
which entered into force in January 2000.

(2001/C 81 E/055)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1491/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(11 May 2000)

Subject: Reimbursement of expenses for group meetings or party conferences incurred by members of the

Committee of the Regions

1.
Given that members of the Committee of the Regions do not represent their constituents or their
political parties but, as a national delegations, represent all the regional authorities in their country, is the
existence of political groups in the Committee encouraged and/or recognised?

2. What are the reasons for the position expressed in answer to question 1?

Are the expenses incurred by members of the Committee of the Regions for travel to attend meetings

3.
of political groups, as referred to in 1 above, reimbursed to them from European Union funds?

Can expenses incurred by members of the Committee of the Regions for travel to attend meetings of

4.
European associations of like-minded political parties reimbursed to them from European Union funds?

If the answer to these questions is yes, does the Commission consider that this situation should

5.
continue or be brought to an end?

6.

On the basis of what considerations does the Commission arrive at its answer to question 5?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

In reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question, the Commission is sending him the following answers
based on information supplied by the Committee of the Regions (CoR):

1. and 2.

It is true that there are no provisions in the EC Treaty on political groups in the CoR. However,
given that the Members are elected representatives, there is no question that sharing a political
ideology is important and an asset for members; this fact deserves recognition and support from the
CoR.

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/47

The existence of political groups within the CoR is governed by its Rules of Procedure. Rule 9(1) states
that (cid:145)Members and alternates may form groups which reflect their political affinities(cid:146); Rule 9(3) goes
on to state that (cid:145)the Committee President shall be notified in a statement when a political group is set
up, dissolved or otherwise changed. ((cid:133)) Notification of the formation (including name, bureau and
number of members) and dissolution of a political group shall be published by the President in the
Official Journal of the European Communities(cid:146).

3. and 4. The expenses incurred by members of the Committee for travel to attend meetings of political
groups are governed by the Rules of Procedure. According to Rule 9(5), (cid:145)the Secretary-General shall
provide the political groups and their constituent bodies with adequate resources for meetings,
activities and publications and for the work of their secretariats. The resources for each political
group shall be earmarked in the budget(cid:146).

Expenses incurred by Committee members for travel to meetings of European groupings of political
parties with the same political views are covered by Rule 22 on the CoR(cid:146)s external activities. The rules
on payments are laid down in the CoR decision on the refund of travel expenses and the payment of
daily subsistence and travel allowances, in particular Article 1(b) (Decision 31/2000 of 15 February
2000).

5. and 6. The Commission(cid:146)s right to judge the provisions adopted by the CoR is limited by the powers

conferred on it by the Treaty.

(2001/C 81 E/056)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1500/00

by Elisabeth Schroedter (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Germany(cid:146)s refusal on principle to incorporate in its regional plans the decentralised global grants

intended to promote local development and employment initiatives

The Structural Fund Regulation set up a decentralised instrument for aid, the (cid:145)global grant(cid:146), which is
primarily intended to promote local development and employment initiatives (Article 9, Regulation
EC 1260/1999), which play an important role in achieving the Community(cid:146)s goal of creating a high level
of employment.

1.

(a) What is the Commission(cid:146)s approach to regional plans which nowhere provide this decentralised
aid instrument which in its own guidelines is designated as the instrument
for decentralised
partnership which in turn is a key factor
the structural programmes
(COM(1999) 344)?

in the success of

(b) How far has the Commission taken heed of Parliament(cid:146)s request in its resolution on the guidelines
(A5-0108/1999 of 18.1.2000, in particular paragraphs 15 and 16) that the global grant be appro-
priately taken into account in regional plans, in its negotiating stance towards the Member States?

(c) How would global grants have to be applied in regional plans for the Commission to recognise this as

(cid:145)appropriate(cid:146)?

(d) Does the Commission consider that plans completely omitting global grants could be approved?

2. Will the Commission approve Germany(cid:146)s regional plans if the Federal Government and the L(cid:228)nder
maintain their refusal on principle to include any global grants in their plans? If so, why? If not, what
specific requirements will the Commission impose?