WRITTEN QUESTION E-3284/00 by Mauro Nobilia (UEN) to the Commission. EDF funding for the island of St Maarten.
Date: 2000-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Development Fund, Saint Martin, cyclone, economic reconstruction, private-sector liquidity, urban infrastructure

C 163 E/78

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(1 December 2000)

The Commission is currently preparing the Second Report on Economic and Social Cohesion, which it
expects to adopt in January 2001. The report will analyse the situation and the trend of cohesion within
the fifteen Member States, the contribution of the various Community policies to cohesion and the
situation in Europe after enlargement. On these bases, it will present alternatives for cohesion policy in
future.

This report will therefore be a starting point for chosing the options for a future cohesion policy and
launching a wide-ranging debate, in particular within the framework of a Forum on Cohesion, which the
Commission will organise in first half of 2001 with the participation of Parliament.

At the proper time and on the basis of discussions with the other institutions, the Commission will be
submitting its proposals on future cohesion policy.

(2001/C 163 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3284/00

by Mauro Nobilia (UEN) to the Commission

(25 October 2000)

Subject: EDF funding for the island of St Maarten

The Commission(cid:146)s reply to my previous question on the same subject (E-2352/00) (1) did not provide any
additional substantive information to that contained in the question itself, and given that:

(cid:129) there is an urgent need to rebuild the urban infrastructures of the overseas territory in question,

particularly in the wake of the recent hurricanes;

(cid:129) this is hard to reconcile with the fact that only 0,6 % of the funding allocated under EDF VIII, much of

which was earmarked for the construction of urban infrastructures, was actually committed;

(cid:129) the allegedly limited absorption capacity of the territory in question hardly accords with the island of

St Maarten(cid:146)s very obvious unmet needs;

(cid:129) even if the commitment rate of EDF funds for the Dutch Antilles does not differ significantly from that
of other partner countries, that does not mean that such a rate is compatible with the objectives of the
EDF, let alone that it represents a model of efficiency;

(cid:129) the local authorities of the island of St Maarten seem to have submitted numerous projects to the
National Authorising Officer of the Dutch Antilles to be forwarded to the Commission to enable the
financial resources allocated under the EDF to be committed.

In view of the foregoing:

(cid:129) would the Commission ascertain the possibility of speeding up the process and procedures for the

commitment of the EDF funds earmarked for the Dutch Antilles?

(cid:129) would the Commission ascertain whether the delay in committing the EDF funds earmarked for the
Dutch Antilles, including the island of St Maarten, conflicts with the principles which determine the
objectives and smooth operation of the European Development Fund itself?

(1) OJ C 103 E, 3.4.2001.

6.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 163 E/79

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(4 December 2000)

1.
As mentioned in the reply to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question E-2352/00, the Commis-
sion confirms that it has not received an official request from the territorial authorising officer of the
Netherlands Antilles for assistance to rebuild the infrastructures of the islands of St. Maarten that were
struck in recent years by hurricanes.

However, the Commission has received from the territorial authorising officer a request for € 34
2.
million for infrastructure to be built on that island (water intake/desalination plant € 2 million, water
distribution € 22 million and road improvements € 10 million). This infrastructure has nothing to do with
that damaged by the hurricanes. It will be built under the agreed European development fund (EDF)
programmes for the Netherlands Antilles. A team of technical assistants is currently analysing the requests
received for St. Maarten (including the designs, technical papers and tender documents) in order that
projects can be prepared according to the normal EDF standards and approved during the course of 2001.

3.
The low rate of commitments for the 8th EDF can be explained by the fact that the last indicative
programme of the Netherlands Antilles was only signed in May 1999. As happens at the beginning of each
EDF cycle, the first year after the signature of an indicative programme is mainly used to select, appraise
and design projects and it is only when this phase is concluded that projects can be approved and
implementation begun. This is precisely what is happening at the moment with the 8th EDF indicative
programme of the Netherlands Antilles.

(2001/C 163 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3286/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) and Gianfranco Fini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Combating paedophilia

(25 October 2000)

The increasingly serious and alarming problem of paedophilia is exacerbated by the Internet, which is not
yet subject to any rules to ensure it is used properly.

It has emerged that yet another pornographic website, namely www.unioneuropea.com, is using an official
name.

What action does the Commission intend to take to prevent the fraudulent use of official EU website
names?

How can minors be protected if criminal organisations use official EU names to publish pornography,
including child pornography?

Does the Commission agree that it would be appropriate for the EU institutions(cid:146) e-mail to incorporate
a message stressing the EU(cid:146)s commitment to preventing the promotion of paedophilia via the Internet?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(17 January 2001)

The Commission has long been concerned about the diffusion of paedophile images on the Internet, in
particular child pornography. In order to fight against it, it proposed a multiannual Community action
plan on promoting safer use of
the Internet by combating illegal and harmful content on global
networks (1). It was adopted by the Council and the Parliament on 25 January 1999. The action plan
provides support in four areas: a European network of hotlines, self-regulation by industry, filtering and
rating and awareness. Furthermore Member States are also committed to provide an appropriate frame-
work under the Council Recommendation 98/560/EC of 24 September 1998 on the development of the
competitiveness of the European audio-visual and information services industry by promoting national
frameworks aimed at achieving a comparable and effective level of protection of minors and human
dignity (2).