WRITTEN QUESTION P-3067/00 by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission. International Year of Mountains.
Date: 2000-09-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU regional policy, mountain region

C 151 E/54

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

Consumption has risen significantly since 1990/1991, (e.g. France (+ 181 %), United Kingdom (+ 329 %)
and Germany (+ 194 %)):

Campaign 1990/1991

Campaign 1998/1999

(1 000 tonnes)

France

United Kingdom

Germany

28

78,8

6,8

29,2

10,3

30,3

3.
The advertising and public relations activities, as well as the consumer panel studies were assigned by
means of an open call for tender procedure. A list of all the agencies retained for the seventh campaign is
sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat. This list also comprises the budget
foreseen for each of them and the Member State concerned.

4.
The same procedure was used for the research institute, which will develop and up-date, collect and
evaluate scientific material and examine, validate and control the health related material produced by the
advertising and public relations agencies.

The dissemination of scientific knowledge on the nutritional values of olive oil has been awarded in the
same way.

The seventh campaign is now running very well. It can therefore be foreseen that the available

5.
financial resources (35.3 M€) will be completely used. This was also true for the sixth campaign.

The Commission is now preparing the selection of an independent institute to conduct evaluations in
order to monitor the ongoing programme. This institute will also be chosen by tender procedure.

(2001/C 151 E/067)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3067/00

by Luciano Caveri (ELDR) to the Commission

(22 September 2000)

Subject: International Year of Mountains

As the United Nations has proclaimed 2002 the International Year of Mountains, the Alpine Convention
has begun to enter into force and a European Charter of Mountain Regions is currently under discussion,
the concept of (cid:145)mountains(cid:146) in the European context is increasingly being discussed in the Member States,
with particular reference to the different classificatory criteria applied under their respective national laws.
These discussions highlight not only the absence of any European Union definition of mountains, but also
the corresponding lack of any specific European policy on mountain areas, notwithstanding the fact that
such areas may be covered by existing regional policies and qualify for the funds available on various
grounds, as explained in a recent Commission publication on mountains in Europe.

What initiatives are planned in connection with the International Year of Mountains, and does the
Commission consider that it should draw up an appropriate strategy for Europe(cid:146)s mountains, including
specific measures, up to and beyond 2006, to address the need to identify the special characteristics of
mountain areas and their economic development?

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/55

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

The Commission intends to make action by the Structural Funds more transparent and, to this end, aims
to make mountain regions more aware of the opportunities available to them under Community policies.
This has also led to the Commission recently publishing a booklet on structural policies and mountain
areas.

Furthermore, during 2002 the Commission is planning to organise a seminar for the International Year of
Mountains explaining how to better mobilise Community policies in mountain regions.

the
The existence of an Alpine Region is recognised in strand B,
Community Initiative Interreg III for the programming period 2000-2006. This initiative makes it possible
to finance cooperation projects throughout the Community(cid:146)s alpine regions, which cover Austria and parts
of Germany, France and Italy.

(cid:145)Transnational Cooperation(cid:146) of

Lastly, the Commission is currently preparing the second report on economic and social cohesion which
should launch the debate on the future cohesion policy, in the context of an enlarged Community.

(2001/C 151 E/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3074/00

by Mikko Pes(cid:228)l(cid:228) (ELDR) and Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(2 October 2000)

Subject: Information about funding available for the Nordic dimension

Could the Commission compile a pamphlet about the funding available for the Nordic dimension?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 2000)

The Commission does not at this stage plan to publish a booklet on the Community(cid:146)s northern dimension.

It should be pointed out that financial aid allocated to Member States, including the Nordic countries, is
publicised in the monthly newsletter Inforegio News (produced in the eleven Community languages) and
by means of specific information disseminated via the Inforegio Internet site (http://inforegio.cec.eu.int).

Also, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1159/2000 of 30 May 2000 on information and publicity measures
to be carried out by the Member States concerning assistance from the Structural Funds (1) requires
Member States to inform potential beneficiaries about the opportunities offered by joint assistance under
the Funds.

Lastly, the Commission(cid:146)s offices in each Member State also relay information on all Community activities.

(1) OJ L 130, 31.5.2000.