WRITTEN QUESTION E-1516/00 by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. The principle of transparency; distribution of EU Structural Fund appropriations.
Date: 2000-05-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU control, Structural Funds, administrative transparency, commitment of expenditure

C 81 E/50

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

(2001/C 81 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1516/00

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: The principle of transparency; distribution of EU Structural Fund appropriations

According to a Finnish doctoral thesis which was examined in January 2000 at the University of Jyv(cid:228)skyl(cid:228),
the way in which European Union Structural Fund appropriations are distributed at provincial level is
undemocratic and contrary to the principle of transparency. The research findings indicate that the funding
in question is distributed at provincial level by a small elite, which supervises itself. Moreover, the strict
interpretation of the concept of business secrets by the Finnish Ministry of Trade and Industry impedes the
application of the principle of transparency.

How will the Commission promote the principle of transparency in the distribution of Structural Fund
appropriations? In view of the currently inadequate supervision of the distribution of the funds, will the
Commission take measures to render the system transparent and democratic?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2000)

Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on
the Structural Funds (1) stipulates that, using transparent procedures, the Commission is to make indicative
breakdowns by Member State of the commitment appropriations available for programming Objectives 1,
2 and 3 of the Structural Funds. That same Article states the criteria on the basis of which those
breakdowns must be made for each Objective.

A Commission statement on Article 7 was annexed to the minutes of the Council meeting on general
affairs at which the Regulation was adopted, following Parliament(cid:146)s assent. That statement contains a
the method used by the Commission to break down among the
highly detailed description of
Member States the commitment appropriations allocated to each of the three Objectives.

The Regulation does not empower the Commission to break down the appropriations allocated among
regions or areas covered by Objective 1 or 2 within a Member State.

Nevertheless, when single programming documents or operational programmes are negotiated,
Commission must ensure that appropriations are concentrated in the most severely affected areas.

the

The Commission has also sent as guidance to all Member States proposals for breaking down Objective 1
and 2 appropriations among the regions or areas concerned. Those proposals are based on the methods
used by the Commission to break down, among Member States, the appropriations for each of those two
Objectives.

The Commission will send a copy of the proposals for Finland to the Honourable Member direct and to
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 81 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1520/00

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Community assistance to a project in Houthalen-Helchteren

The Commission is considering providing 60 million francs in subsidies for the development of a wildlife
park on the Kelchterhoef estate in Houthalen-Helchteren in the Province of Limburg. The Flemish Tourism
Organisation is proposing to invest a further 50 million francs in the project. The project has been
proposed by the municipal authority of Houthalen-Helchteren and a Dutch project developer.