WRITTEN QUESTION E-2594/00 by Fernando Fernández Martín (PPE-DE) to the Commission. MEDA programme.
Date: 2000-08-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, Mediterranean third countries, Morocco, aid system, cooperation policy

C 113 E/128

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Nevertheless, some of the questions which I put to him during the debate were not answered, doubtless
owing to lack of time.

With a view to a more leisurely answer in writing, on the subject of IRELA (Institute for Relations with
Latin America), what plans does Mr Patten have regarding its viability and objectives, particularly bearing
in mind its scant economic resources, as a result of which its staff (cid:129) officials and contract staff (cid:129) have not
received their salaries since January 2000?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 September 2000)

The 10 July 2000 General Affairs Council endorsed a proposal to create an informal ad hoc working
group, consisting of representatives of the Presidency assisted by the Secretariat, the Commission, the
Parliament and interested Member States. The aim of that working group is to find a solution to the
problems confronting the Instituto de Relaciones Europeo (cid:129) Latino americanas (IRELA) and it would be an
appropriate forum to discuss IRELA(cid:146)s future legal basis and income sources, pulling together support from
all parties involved.

Pending the result of the working group(cid:146)s discussion, the Commission naturally cannot advance a position
on the future structure of IRELA or its income sources. Nevertheless the Commission is committed to a
permanent solution and believes the working group should be established and start its activities as soon as
possible.

Concerning IRELA(cid:146)s staff, the Commission is aware that IRELA(cid:146)s experts have continued to run the
Institute over the last few months regardless of its financial problems. IRELA has not diversified its income
sources in order to ensure the continuity of the Institute and the working stability of its staff. The
Commission regrets the present situation, especially taking into account the quality of IRELA(cid:146)s work.

In any case, IRELA was created as an independent institution and the Commission cannot and should not
intervene in its personnel policy.

In the framework of the activities of the above mentioned working group, the Commission is open to
discuss any solution with regard to IRELA(cid:146)s staff, within the existing financial rules framework.

(2001/C 113 E/130)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2594/00

by Fernando FernÆndez Mart(cid:237)n (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 August 2000)

Subject: MEDA programme

During his appearance before the Committee on Development and Cooperation at
its meeting in
Strasbourg in June 2000, Mr Patten, Commissioner responsible for Foreign Affairs, gave a comprehensive
and excellent report on his plans for the reform of the Commission(cid:146)s services responsible for external
relations and the management of foreign aid.

Nevertheless, some of the questions which I put to him during the debate were not answered, doubtless
owing to lack of time.

With a view to a more leisurely answer in writing, on the subject of the European Union MEDA
programme in the Kingdom of Morocco, which currently stands at only 25 % of the total resources
available, what measures might be adopted in the future, in the short and medium term, in order to
remedy this situation, which is preventing the achievement of a strategic objective set by the Union with
regard to development cooperation and, even more seriously, is preventing the Kingdom of Morocco and
its citizens from reaping the benefits of this cooperation?

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/129

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2000)

Between 1996 and 1999 commitments in Morocco under
€ 630,29 million, fully in line with the target levels.

the MEDA programme amounted to

However,
completely disbursed. The third and final tranche was paid in December 1999.

the structural adjustment programme worth € 120 million is the only one to have been

The low rate of payments for the other cooperation projects with Morocco is partly due to the length
(5 to 10 years) of typical cooperation projects. Having said that, it is also the result of the slow start-up of
MEDA projects, which is a problem common to all Mediterranean non-member countries, partly due to
the time spent in negotiating the Framework Convention. The situation improved in 1999 and it should be
possible to increase payments from this year. It is clear that the cumbersome Community decision-making
and administrative procedures have also contributed to the delays in the implementation and payment of
MEDA projects.

In Morocco(cid:146)s case statistics show that until now the administrative delays have been attributable to the
Moroccan authorities and the Commission in equal measure.

The Commission(cid:146)s recent decision to reform the management of external assistance aims to address the
Honourable Member(cid:146)s concerns. The reform would focus on the quality of the preparation of operations
financed by the Community budget, while ensuring that an operation will be implemented quickly once
financing has been agreed. This should step up the real rate of absorption.

(2001/C 113 E/131)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2600/00

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Safety problems at Heraklion airport

(1 August 2000)

A peculiar feature of Heraklion airport on Crete is that all landings and take-offs involve low-level flying
over the densely populated district of Alicarnaso, with the result that there is a serious risk of an accident.
At 9,55 p.m. on 9 July 2000, a Russian plane attempted to take off at an exceptionally low level,
damaging several houses and causing panic among residents. Studies were carried out many years ago into
the construction of a safer runway, but no contract for such a project has yet been awarded.

Does the Commission have any information on safety at the above airport? Has it received any application
for Community support for the construction of a new runway at the airport in question? Is it aware of the
reasons why no contract has been awarded to date, and what action will be taken in the future?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(28 September 2000)

The Commission does not have specific information on safety rules applied at Heraklion Airport and is not
in possession of information indicating that infrastructure features or operating rules applied at this airport
constitute a particular risk or an infringement of international or national rules on air safety.

In the context of the Community Framework 2000-2006 for Greece, the Greek authorities have presented
to the Commission a draft operational programme (cid:145)Railways, Airports, Urban Transport(cid:146) which foresees
the construction of a new runway at Heraklion airport. This draft programme is currently under
negotiation.