WRITTEN QUESTION E-2025/00 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Budgetary contributions of Member States.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Member States' contribution

C 72 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

subject to certain conditions up until 2003, including closure and restructuring aids, aids for research and
development, aids for innovation, and regional
investment aids for upgrading or modernising existing
yards(cid:146).

Can the Commission state whether this is a closed list of the types of aid that may be authorised up to
2003, or whether other forms of aid to protect the EU shipbuilding industry may in fact be permitted,
particularly in the event of South Korea continuing with its practices of unfair competition in shipbuilding
after September 2000?

Can the Commission state whether it has adopted or intends to adopt special aid measures for shipyards
located in Objective 1 maritime regions in the outlying parts of the Union?

(1) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000, p. 132.
(2) OJ L 202, 18.7.1998, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

The first paragraph of Article 2 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1540/98 of 29 June 1998 on establishing
new rules on aid to shipbuilding makes it clear that the only aids to shipbuilding that may be considered
compatible with the common market are those complying with the Regulation. No other types of aid are
allowed.

As regards special aid measures for shipyards based in objective 1 maritime regions, regional considera-
tions are taken into account as regards certain categories of aid covered by the Regulation. In the case of
aids for research and development and aids for environmental protection, there is the possibility of top-ups
above the normally applicable ceiling for yards in disadvantaged regions. In addition, the Regulation also
allows investment aids for upgrading or modernising existing yards in regions eligible for regional aids
under Article 87.3 (ex Article 92)(a) and (c) of the EC Treaty.

(2001/C 72 E/217)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2025/00

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Budgetary contributions of Member States

(21 June 2000)

Can the Commission indicate the net contributions or receipts of each of the Member States for the last
financial year?

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2000)

The latest year for which data on budgetary balances are available is 1998.

The estimates for 1999 will be reported in tandem with the 1999 Report on the Allocation of EU
Expenditure, which is currently being prepared. As in any other year, the report will probably be available
at
is a public document and will also be available on the
Commission Internet page.

the beginning of autumn. This report

Data on budgetary data related to previous years (in particular 1992-1998) can be found in the 1998
allocated expenditure report entitled (cid:145)Allocation of 1998 EU operating expenditure by Member State(cid:146). This
report is available at the following address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/budget/pdf/agenda2000/statdepenses98.pdf.

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/171

Despite the availability of estimates of budgetary balances by Member State, it is to be noted that there
exists no optimal way to measure net contributions. The Commission has also consistently argued against
the use of such measures when intended to evaluate the budgetary benefits and costs of Union member-
ship. These issues are extensively discussed in the Commission report on the operation of the own
resources system, of October 1998, and in particular in Annex 3. This report is available at the following
address:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/budget/fr/agenda2000/a2000rp.htm.

(2001/C 72 E/218)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2027/00

by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Position of workers, their legal security and work protection in paedophile cases

A number of difficult paedophile incidents have recently been uncovered in several European Union
Member States among persons working with children. These incidents have made the working environ-
ment considerably more difficult. Workers who have attempted to help children and demand investigations
have often come up against a powerful reaction, for example in the course of court and complaints
procedures. In the worst instance a worker was sacked and even had to bear liability for legal costs.

What measures is the Commission taking or does it propose to take at European level to protect the
position and legal certainty of workers in cases where a worker has taken measures to protect children and
investigate paedophile incidents at his or her place of work?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(20 September 2000)

The matter to which reference is made does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Community.

(2001/C 72 E/219)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2031/00

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Vietnam: meeting between Mr Prodi and Mr LŒ Kha PhiŒu

Despite the fact that Vietnam has shown not the slightest signs of any improvement in its current regime
and there have, on the contrary, been further arrests of political and religious figures, the Vietnamese press
agency has announced that the President of the Commission decided to hold a meeting on Saturday,
27 May with Mr LŒ Kha PhiŒu, Secretary-General of the Vietnamese Communist Party, in other words the
politician who symbolises most obviously and most directly the anti-democratic face of Vietnam.

Can this decision by the President of the Commission be interpreted as marking the beginning of a shift
away from the highly critical stance hitherto adopted by the European Union towards Vietnam and the
abandonment of specific demands by the European institutions, in particular the European Parliament, that
the Vietnamese authorities carry out political, economic and human rights reforms? If this is not the case,
what guarantees did the Commission receive from the Secretary-General of the Vietnamese Communist
Party concerning the willingness of the Vietnamese authorities to carry out rapidly the reforms necessary
reforms to establish democracy and the rule of law in Vietnam?