WRITTEN QUESTION P-3368/00 by Thierry de La Perriere (UEN) to the Commission. Problems concerning town twinning.
Date: 2000-10-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, economic support, invitation to tender, twinning

C 163 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. Would it be possible, under the Treaties, for the European authorities to intervene in this matter to
enable the Italian justice system to fully exercise its rights, not least out of respect for the victims and
their families?

2. What is the Commission(cid:146)s opinion on the matter?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2000)

The Commission can not intervene in this matter, as only the Member States are competent to decide to
grant a request for extradition in a particular case.

However,
the deadline for ratification of the two Union Conventions on extradition agreed so far,
i.e. Convention on simplified extradition procedure between the Member States (1995) (1) and the
Convention relating to extradition between Member States (1996) (2), has been set for April 2001 by the
Vienna action plan (3). Moreover the Commission is currently preparing an initiative relating to the
extradition issue (abolition of formal extradition procedures concerning those fleeing from justice and
fast track extradition procedures as well as the issue of extradition in relation to procedures in absentia), in
line with the mandate in paragraph 35 of the Presidency conclusions of the Tampere European Council of
15 and 16 October 1999 and recommendation 28 of (cid:145)The Prevention and Control of Organised Crime:
A European Union Strategy for the Beginning of the New Millennium(cid:146) (4).

It should be noted that there already is a co-operation on extradition and other criminal matters on
a bilateral basis in the Union, though not between France and Italy. On 20 July 2000 a Protocol and a
joint declaration were signed in Madrid between the Italian and Spanish Justice ministers. The background
to the agreement is a number of misunderstandings, which have prevented the extradition of dangerous
criminals, who had been sentenced in absentia in Italy and sought refuge in Spain.

Lastly, on 29 November 2000 a bilateral treaty which abolishes extradition for specific serious crimes
between Spain and Italy was signed in the framework of the above indicated joint declaration in Rome.

(1) Ratified by Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland and Sweden.
(2) Ratified by Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Finland.
(3) OJ C 19, 23.1.1999.
(4) OJ C 124, 3.5.2000.

(2001/C 163 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3368/00

by Thierry de La Perriere (UEN) to the Commission

(20 October 2000)

Subject: Problems concerning town twinning

A number of mayors have referred to the difficulties they have encountered this year in their twinning
work and their worries about the future. It would appear that we are heading for paralysis unless more
substantial resources and less technocratic instructions are swiftly introduced for those involved in
twinning schemes.

In particular, two points are posing real problems:

(cid:129) the long delay in processing applications for subsidies;

(cid:129) the obligation to issue calls to tender, which makes it more difficult for small towns to gain access to
funding, since they do not have staff specialised in the complex procedures involved in responding
to calls to tender and they have minimal financial resources.

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/103

Can the Commission therefore say;

1. what the reason for the delays is;

2. what it intends to do to ensure that the procedure for submitting applications remains accessible to as

many towns as possible, in particular to the smallest ones;

3. whether there is a report assessing the results of the programme?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(7 December 2000)

The Commission continues to be very much aware that the town-twinning assistance programme needs to
be managed effectively if it is to be a complete success.

In view of past difficulties and the needs arising from them, and given the very large number and variety
of proposals received, the Commission is introducing a new procedure which should help to improve
effectiveness.

An information meeting on this new call for proposals procedure was held on 23 October 2000, to which
representatives of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), the national associations of
the Member States, the central and eastern European countries, Malta, Cyprus and Turkey, the United
Towns Organisation (UTO) and the Assembly of European Regions were invited.

The questions raised by the Honourable Member have already been dealt with in the new call for
proposals.

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

An assessment of ten years of Community assistance activities for twinning was presented at the Bilbao
conference in December 1999. The booklet containing this assessment will be sent directly to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 163 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3371/00

by Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: Floods in north-west Italy

Tragic floods have been affecting parts of north-west Italy for the last few days, causing a state of
emergency and killing an unspecified number of people. Dozens of villages and hamlets have been cut off,
not least because telephone and electricity lines have been hit. Dams and rivers are out of control,
including the Po and the Tanaro, which have risen far above safety levels and are threatening inhabited
areas.

In view of the fact that Italy has been the victim of various environmental disasters, does the Commission
intend:

(cid:129) to set up a fund for emergencies caused by natural disasters;

(cid:129) to send immediate aid to the communities affected;

(cid:129) to ascertain compliance with environmental legislation?