WRITTEN QUESTION E-2523/00 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. European Topic Centre for Nature Conservation and the Habitats Directive.
Date: 2000-08-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU environmental policy, accession to the European Union, countryside conservation, scientific report

C 103 E/172

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2000)

The Commission(cid:146)s previous answer to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s written question E-1338/00 (1) did not
state or mean to imply that aid is ineffective. It is clear that state aid can help to attract investment projects
to a particular area, and this is why the Commission allows higher levels of aid in less developed areas of
the Community (such as Saxony, where the investment of concern to the Honourable Member is located).
Indeed, one reason for state aid control is to ensure that aid offered in these regions is not outbid by
others which do not have the same handicaps. As for aid to the German coal industry, the Honourable
Member is correct to suggest that without such aid the sector would be in the most severe difficulties.

Concerning overall volume of aid, the Commission has noted, most recently in the eighth survey of state
aid (2), a continuing decline but has also stressed the importance of maintaining this current overall
downward trend.

In the case to which the Honourable Member refers, the Commission has enquired and has been informed
by the German authorities that no decision on an individual award of aid has yet been made. However,
under the Investitionszulage and Gemeinschaftsaufgabe schemes, and in conformity with the Community(cid:146)s
regional aid guidelines, the Commission has authorised Germany to grant certain aid to investment in the
form of tax credits and grants in order to allow the authorities at Federal and L(cid:228)nder level to promote
investment, in particular in the less developed areas of Germany, including the New L(cid:228)nder. Individual
cases which conform to the Commission(cid:146)s authorisation would not normally be the subject of an
individual notification or information to the Commission.

(1) OJ C 53 E, 20.2.2001.
(2) COM(2000) 205 final.

(2001/C 103 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2523/00

by Jonas Sj(cid:246)stedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(2 August 2000)

Subject: European Topic Centre for Nature Conservation and the Habitats Directive

How does the Commission intend to ensure that the comprehensive scientific expertise required at
European level through the ETC/NC is delivered to achieve the objectives of the Habitats Directive and
the Natura 2000 sites selection process?

Further, in relation to the implementation of the Habitats Directive in accession countries, how will the
Commission ensure that an increased scientific expertise at European level is available to meet the needs of
enlargement, for example via the Phare topic link in Bratislava?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2000)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s view that comprehensive expertise is indispensable for
selection of the Natura 2000 sites and that this also applies to the accession countries.

At the time of renewal of the contract of the European Topic Centre for Nature Conservation, the
Commission urged the European Environment Agency to give priority and allocate sufficient human
resources to Natura 2000 activities in the task description for the Topic Centre.

The Commission hopes that the other members of the Agency(cid:146)s Management Board,
members designated by the European Parliament, will support this priority.

including the