WRITTEN QUESTION E-3007/00 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. Town twinning and eligibility criteria.
Date: 2000-09-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: eligibility criteria, twinning

22.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 151 E/39

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 2000)

The Commission(cid:146)s attention has already been drawn by a number of foreign funds to the question of tax
arrangements for share-based investment funds.

1.
The Commission is aware of the Law on Tax Reductions referred to in the Frankfurter Allgemeine
Zeitung of 2 September. It is currently undertaking a detailed comparison of the tax regime for German
and foreign funds in the light of the relevant Community provisions, with particular reference to the non-
discrimination rule.

Depending on the outcome, the Commission may if it sees fit prepare a case under Article 226

2.
(ex Article 169) of the EC Treaty.

(2001/C 151 E/049)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3005/00

by Bill Miller (PSE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: EU human rights aid

There are many organisations which receive EU human rights financial aid.

Could the Commission:

1.

List all those organisations in receipt of such funding and indicate which are government organisa-
tions and which are NGOs?

2. Detail the level of funding allocated to each listed organisation?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 November 2000)

Concerning actions financed from Chapter B7-7 of the external relations sector of the budget, the
information requested by the Honourable Member has just been published by the European Human Rights
Foundation, financed by the Commission,
in its (cid:145)Compendium 2000(cid:146). A copy is sent direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

Support for human rights may also be considered for funding from the internal policy section of the
Community budget in accordance with the commentaries for the budget lines covering refugees, asylum
seekers and migrants.

(2001/C 151 E/050)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3007/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Town twinning and eligibility criteria

Under the eligibility criteria for town twinning, the EU does not provide financial assistance for exchanges
between towns less than 250 km apart.

Poole (South West England) and Cherbourg (France) have a long-standing twinning agreement, but are
ineligible for a grant because the two towns are less than 250 km apart.

C 151 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

22.5.2001

However, the two towns are separated by the English Channel, and any travel between them necessitates a
journey by either air or sea, which can be costly.

Would the Commission consider taking into account the high cost of travel between two twinned towns
that are separated by a sea border, and change the eligibility criteria accordingly?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(27 November 2000)

The Commission remains highly conscious of the need for effective management of the town twinning
assistance programme as a precondition of its complete success.

In view of the difficulties and ensuing need for remedial action created by the large number and variety of
proposals received in the past, the Commission is introducing a new procedure for 2001, which should
help to improve efficiency. This procedure provides for greater flexibility in evaluating proposals involving
towns less than 250 km apart.

The Commission notes the concerns voiced by the Honourable Member and will keep Parliament informed
of the application of the new procedures.

(2001/C 151 E/051)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3021/00

by Laura GonzÆlez `lvarez (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(26 September 2000)

Subject: Ban on driftnets

In 1992 the Council decided to restrict driftnets to a maximum length of 2,5 km. Despite the existence of
such rules, however, driftnet fishing is still practised. For this reason the Council adopted Regulation (EEC)
No 1239/98 (1), pursuant to which driftnets will be gradually phased out by 1 January 2002, at the end of
a transitional period granted to enable fishing fleets to adapt.

Over the summer, however, Spanish fishermen(cid:146)s organisations have complained that the above regulation
has been ignored by French vessels fishing in the Atlantic and Italian ones fishing in the Mediterranean,
which continue to use driftnets of up to 10 km.
from encouraging unfair
competition between fishermen (on account of the greater efficiency of driftnet fishing by comparison
with other traditional techniques), such infringements of Community law impede the progress of other
vessels and cause significant environmental damage in the form of secondary catches of species such as
dolphins, whales and sharks.

in length. Quite apart

What action has the Commission taken (and what further action does it intend to take) in order to ensure
compliance with Regulation (EEC) No 1239/98 on the phasing out of driftnets?

How many infringements has the Commission detected annually and per country since 1998?

How many vessels (classified by countries) have been authorised to use driftnets for each of the years from
1998 to 2000?

(1) OJ L 171, 17.6.1998, p. 1.