WRITTEN QUESTION E-2678/00 by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Delays in processing development projects.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, development aid

3.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 103 E/209

Is the Commission aware of the above incidents? Will it take steps to secure the release of the six Turkish
Cypriot journalists and the resumption of publication of the newspaper Avrupa and, more generally, will it
exert pressure on Turkey and the Denktash regime to respect press freedom and human rights in the
Turkish-controlled part of Cyprus?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(8 September 2000)

The Commission is following closely the developments mentioned by the Honourable Member, as already
indicated in its answer to Written Question P-1802/00 by Mrs Giannakou-Koutsikou (1). It is likely that the
events in question will be considered in the forthcoming regular report of the Commission on Cyprus, due
to be published in autumn 2000. This report, which reviews progress in the light of the Copenhagen
criteria, including human rights, will include a special section dealing with the situation in the northern
part of the island.

(1) OJ C 72 E, 6.3.2001, p. 121.

(2001/C 103 E/239)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2674/00

by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: MAN industrial vehicles (cid:129) Kutschera complaint (cid:129) Proceedings No IV/35.907/f-2

1. When is the Commission likely to take a decision on the proceedings referred to above? Mr Kutschera
has contacted us about this matter on several occasions since, in his opinion, no proceedings have yet
been initiated against MAN.

2.

Are there any specific reasons why no proceedings have been initiated to date?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Mr Kutschera(cid:146)s lawyer has already been informed that further legal proceedings will be taken this year.

In carrying out its duties in the field of competition law, the Commission is obliged to set certain
priorities (1). Since Mr Kutschera is seeking legal remedy in Italy and may continue to do so, it has not yet
begun work on this case.

(1)

Judgment of the Court of First Instance in Case T-24/90 Automec v. Commission [1992] ECR II-2223, at 77 ff.

(2001/C 103 E/240)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2678/00

by Mary Banotti (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Delays in processing development projects

It has been brought to my attention that in spite of the hard work of those involved in DG Development
there are serious delays in processing proposals for funding already allocated. New proposals for the year

C 103 E/210

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.4.2001

2000 are still not forthcoming and the DG Development budget for 2001 is being curtailed rather than
increased through the merging of budget headings B7-6000 and B7-643A, thereby compounding these
problems.

Given the European Commission(cid:146)s commitment to providing a European development programme, what
measures is the Commission prepared to take in order to ensure that the world(cid:146)s poor are not suffering
because of a lack of staff to process work in DG Development? What steps can the Commission take to
rectify this situation as soon as possible?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(11 October 2000)

The Directorate-General for Development has drawn up an operational guide in the light of the new
General Conditions governing the cofinancing of operations by NGOs which came into force on 7 January,
the rules of transparency introduced by the Amsterdam Treaty to provide greater public access to
information and Parliament(cid:146)s recommendations. This is accessible to the public and explains how the
system of processing NGO cofinancing applications is applied to projects and programmes in developing
countries (budget heading B7-6000), projects and programmes to raise public awareness in the European
Union on development issues (budget heading B7-6000), capacity building programmes and decentralised
cooperation programmes and projects (budget heading B7-6430).

This exercise, which preceded the processing of applications, was essential as, again in the interests of
transparency, NGO cofinancing applications will in future be examined on the basis of an invitation to
submit proposals. An invitation has been published in the Official Journal for 2000 (1).

This is why there has been some delay in the processing of proposals. However, 244 projects totalling
€ 80 million have already been approved by an internal selection committee for this year and € 200
million of the appropriations allocated by the budgetary authority are expected to have been committed by
the end of the year.

For 2001, the Commission has proposed that budget headings B7-6000 and B7-6430 be combined in the
interests of rationalisation and in view of the importance placed on the consolidation of civil society and
its participation in Community development aid policy. It is intended to make full use of decentralised
cooperation which gives local stakeholders responsibility for drawing up and implementing cooperation
programmes. The pooling of funds under headings B7-6000 and B7-6430 will ensure more effective
allocation of and deployment of resources to promote ownership which is an essential component of
poverty reduction.

(1) OJ C 177, 27.6.2000.

(2001/C 103 E/241)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2690/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Agricultural support and accession of Poland

1. What is the Commission(cid:146)s estimate of the extra annual cost of support if existing EU farm support
policies were extended to Poland on its accession to the EU,

(a) assuming no change in its current agricultural production;

(b) projecting a change in its agricultural production based on changes in price incentives as support and

structural policies were brought into line with existing EU policies?