WRITTEN QUESTION E-2743/00 by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Sewage plant in Sarroch, Sardinia.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, Sardinia, water treatment

20.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 89 E/219

State aid per person employed in the manufacturing sector

(In euro and 1997 prices)

1994

(cid:129)
1 432
1 102
2 419
605
447
(cid:129)
1 007
734
2 230
1 345
628
446
(cid:129)
274

1 357

Austria
Belgium
Denmark
Germany
Greece
Spain
Finland
France
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Portugal
Sweden
United Kingdom

EU 15

(1) COM(2000) 205 final.

1995

632
1 324
1 246
1 850
1 187
1 077
1 015
771
806
2 760
1 441
704
172
415
318

1 338

1996

676
1 373
1 406
1 553
983
781
840
908
1 188
2 269
1 414
775
170
426
358

1 182

1997

761
879
1 501
1 448
1 188
675
1 046
1 457
1 122
1 930
1 500
709
213
401
341

1 151

1998

720
1 028
1 392
1 302
820
617
990
1 029
2 065
1 666
1 515
721
180
495
304

1 007

(2001/C 89 E/249)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2741/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Cost of the changeover to the euro

Has the Commission made any estimation of

1.
joining the single currency to the
11 countries which are currently part of the eurozone and the expected costs to Greece when it joins in
2001? Could the Commission provide a breakdown of these figures?

the cost of

Has the Commission make any estimation of the cost of joining the euro to Denmark, Sweden and

2.
the United Kingdom, if these countries expressed a wish to join?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(29 September 2000)

In the Commission(cid:146)s view, it is impossible to assess the (cid:145)cost(cid:146) of the changeover to the euro and existing
estimates should be taken with a pinch of salt. Most of these estimates fail to take account of the positive
effects of the creation of the euro.

(2001/C 89 E/250)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2743/00

by Monica Frassoni (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Sewage plant in Sarroch, Sardinia

In 1993 the region of Sardinia delegated responsibility to the municipality of Sarroch for building a
sewage treatment plant at Perd(cid:146)e Sali Porto Columbu with funding from the Envireg Community
programme (1). After the project had been assigned to a firm (2), the work was suspended on 26 February
1996 for an expert(cid:146)s report to be drawn up on relocating the sewage plant, because the engineer

C 89 E/220

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.3.2001

responsible for the planning of the project had failed to take into account the fact that there was still
housing in the vicinity of the proposed site. Once the survey had been approved (3), the contractors refused
to resume work, prompting the municipality of Sarroch to cancel the contract (4). The work was then
entrusted to another firm, which built the sewage plant at the new location indicated in the report, above
the user sector, close to the sea, in the only remaining unspoilt natural area of the municipality of Sarroch.

Although a letter was sent to the office of the Cagliari Public Prosecutor on 23 July 1997 asking it to
check the legality of the various authorisations for the construction work and compliance with the existing
laws on the environment, no measures have yet been taken.

At present, the sewage plant has been completely abandoned and is a target for vandalism. The sewage
problems of the area concerned have not been resolved and the area has been disfigured, jeopardising
possible tourist development.

Will the Commission investigate the legality of the management of the Community funds used for the
project? Does it not think that the recipients of the funding should compensate the European Union, since
the project concerned did not fulfil its objectives?

(1) Decision No 35/3 of 24 September 1993; delegation order DCGADA No 2557 of 8 October 1993.
(2) Municipal Council Decision No 365 of 25 November 1994.
(3) Municipal Council Decision No 328 of 8 November 1996, endorsed by the opinions of the Department of the
Environment and the Department of Public Education of the autonomous region of Sardinia and the office for the
protection of the artistic, architecture and historical heritage.

(4) Municipal Council Decision No 58 of 21 February 1997.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(13 October 2000)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 89 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2744/00

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Estate agents

Given that the estate agent sector has grown considerably in recent years, both in terms of turnover and
the number of employees, will the Commission provide all possible information on the new European
provisions regarding estate agents, particular as regards qualifying exams for the profession?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

As regards the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, the profession of estate agent is covered
by Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988, on a general system for the recognition of higher-
education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years(cid:146)
duration (1), and Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992, on a second general system for the
recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (2). Which of these
two Directives applies depends on the levels of
training required in the Member State where the
professional acquired his or her qualifications (Member State of origin) and in the Member State where
he or she wishes to exercise this profession (host Member State).