WRITTEN QUESTION E-2307/00 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Information centres.
Date: 2000-07-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Commission, access to EU information, budget, centralisation of information, information network, information policy, public awareness campaign

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/187

(2001/C 81 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2307/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Information centres

The Commission now has a number of information centres for the general public (Info-Points and Rural
Information Centres), whose job it is to acquaint the population with the European Union(cid:146)s policies and
programmes. These centres currently receive a Community subsidy under budget heading B3-301.

In the context of the new information policy resulting from the current reform of the Commission there is
no clear picture of the future role of these centres. Does the Commission intend to continue granting
subsidies to these information and documentation networks or, instead, does it envisage these subsidies
being provided by the Member States? If so, to what measures does the Commission intend to allocate the
aid in order to continue to keep European citizens informed about the EU institutions(cid:146) policies?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2000)

It is particularly important to the Commission that the information networks, which it helped to develop
and which it supports and encourages, should work well, as they have a key role to play in the
decentralisation of information for the citizen.

The Commission does intend to continue granting subsidies to these information networks, within the
limits laid down by the budgetary authority.

At the meeting on 26 July 2000, furthermore, the Commission asked the President and Ms Reding to
submit proposals for the development of an integrated information and communication strategy, by the
end of the year 2000. The importance of the role of the information centres will, of course, be taken into
account in this context.

(2001/C 81 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2308/00

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 July 2000)

Subject: Levels of commitment and implementation of budget line B7-546

What are the latest figures the Commission has available concerning the level of implementation of
commitment and payment appropriations under budget heading B7-546?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The situation at 9 July 2000 regarding the use of appropriations under budget heading B7-546 (Aid for
the reconstruction of Kosovo) was the following: 95 % of the available commitment appropriations
(carryovers included), and 71 % of the payment appropriations for the financial year had been used.

As had been agreed with the budgetary authority when the 2000 budget was adopted, the Commission
will be shortly preparing a transfer request to complete the mobilisation of the extra € 40 million
commitment appropriations announced at the beginning of the year. A further transfer request will be
proposed to make good the shortfalls
in payment appropriations, which are due to run out
before September.