WRITTEN QUESTION E-1611/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. IFOP and the Basque Country.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Basque Country, EU programme, FIFG, fisheries policy

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/59

The declaration by the Presidency of the Council on the announcement of the said elections states that (cid:145)the
European Union will be closely monitoring the course of the forthcoming elections(cid:146) and expresses the
Union(cid:146)s concern for the neutrality and impartiality of the electoral process. Will the Council specify what
action it intends to take to see to it that democratic transparency governs these elections?

Reply

(29 September 2000)

The Honourable Member refers in her question to the Presidency declaration of 4 May on the local
elections which were held in Equatorial Guinea on 28 May 2000. These elections were closely monitored
by the Heads of Mission of the European Union, allowing for the European Union to assess whether its
concern for the organisation of a transparent, neutral and impartial vote has been met.

(2001/C 81 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1610/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Committee on Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture

(29 May 2000)

Article 51 of Council Regulation No 1260/1999 (1) laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds
has set up a Committee on Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture, with the sole specification that it shall
be made up of representatives of the Member States.

What is the current membership of this Committee? What has it done in the period of its existence, which
is now almost one year?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2000)

The full members of the Committee in question are in general the heads of the Member States(cid:146) fishery
administrations.

Under the Code of Conduct on the implementation of structural policies by the Commission signed on
6 May 1999 by Mr Santer and Mr Gil Robles (document PE 230 741) Parliament is officially provided with
regular information on the Committee(cid:146)s activities. The Honourable Member can obtain agendas, minutes
and documents from Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 81 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1611/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: IFOP and the Basque Country

Can the Commission provide information on the utilisation of IFOP resources in the Basque region of
Spain over the period 1994-1999?

C 81 E/60

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

Despite the existing Objective 1 framework, does the Commission believe that any fisheries projects could
be covered by this new Structural Fund in that (Objective 2) region?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(19 June 2000)

Between 1 January 1994 and 31 December 1999, aid totalling € 68,55 million was paid under the
financial instrument for fisheries guidance (FIFG) to projects located in the Basque Autonomous Commun-
ity. That amount does not include all structural aid to the fisheries and aquaculture sector during the
1994-1999 programming period, since projects may still be carried out until the end of 2001 provided
that the managing authority for the programme selected them before 31 December 1999.

During the new programming period (2000-06), all the fisheries sector structural measures referred to in
Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December 1999 (1) may be financed by the FIFG throughout
Community territory.

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999.

(2001/C 81 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1612/00

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Objective 2 areas

A few days ago it was stated that, in view of the forthcoming enlargement of the Union, structural aid will
no longer be payable to 62 % of the Spanish state.

Is the Commission aware of the actual impact that enlargement will have in this sense and, concretely,
how it will affect the present Objective 2 areas in the Spanish state?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2000)

The list of the areas of Spain eligible under Objective 2 of the Structural Funds for the programming
period 2000-2006 was established by Commission Decision 2000/264/EC of 14 March 2000 (1). Under
Article 4(11) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions
on the Structural Funds (2), this list is valid until 31 December 2006. It can, however, be amended during
2003 on a proposal from the Member State where there is a serious crisis in a region, without increasing
the proportion of the population within each region.

It follows from these provisions that the total population eligible under Objective 2 in Spain will not be
affected, between now and the end of 2006, by the accession of new Member States. With regard to the
period after 2006, the second report on cohesion that the Commission will adopt at the end of this year,
pursuant to Article 159 of the EC Treaty (ex-Article 130b), will analyse the situation of the regions in the
context of an enlarged Union and will propose a number of guidelines for the future of cohesion policy.

(1) OJ L 84, 5.4.2000.
(2) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.