WRITTEN QUESTION E-3864/00 by Ingo Friedrich (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Inforegio Panorama glossy magazine.
Date: 2000-12-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU publication, European Regional Development Fund, structural expenditure

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/169

How will the ETS promote the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the outer maritime regions
currently under Objective 1 by combating the increase in the peripheral nature of these regions which
enlargement will entail?

(1)

(cid:145)Texts adopted(cid:146) of 4 October 2000, p. 1.

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3855/00 and E-3857/00

(8 March 2001)

With regard to the accession negotiations with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and
Slovenia on Regional Policy, it has not yet been possible for the Union to take a position on a number of
substantive issues, in particular regarding the Structural and Cohesion Funds. This is because the necessary
information, in particular in the form of Community figures, is not yet available to decide on questions
such as the eligibility of individual candidates for assistance from these Funds. As a result, such issues will
have to be examined at a later stage of the negotiations. Consequently, the (cid:145)road map(cid:146) for the accession
negotiations suggested by the Commission, and welcomed by the Council in its conclusions of 4 December
2000, provides for the Union to define, where appropriate, EU common positions on Regional Policy
during the first half of 2002, including on outstanding substantive issues, with a view to the provisional
closure of this chapter once the conditions are met.

As for Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Bulgaria, with whom the Regional Policy chapter
has not yet been opened, it should be recalled that the Feira European Council considered that it should be
feasible to open negotiations in all areas of the acquis with the most advanced of these candidates as early
as possible in 2001. As a result, the Swedish Presidency intends to open the Regional Policy chapter with
Malta, Slovakia, Latvia and Lithuania.

As is the case for all the chapters of the acquis under negotiation, the accession negotiations are carried
out on the basis of the acquis in force. New acquis adopted before the conclusion of the negotiations will
be taken into account as appropriate. As a result, the Council is unable to take a position, at this stage, on
the other specific questions raised by the Honourable Parliamentarian. Nonetheless, it should be noted that
the Council is keenly aware of the problems for social and economic cohesion raised by extending EU
structural policies to new Member States, as has been underlined by the European Parliament.

(2001/C 174 E/177)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3864/00

by Ingo Friedrich (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Subject:

(cid:145)Inforegio Panorama(cid:146) glossy magazine

(cid:145)Inforegio Panorama(cid:146)
Although it is printed on recycled paper, it is a very expensive production.

is a glossy monthly published by the Directorate-General

for Regional Policy.

What are the production costs per issue?

Are these production costs justified?

How much would a less elaborate format cost?

C 174 E/170

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 January 2001)

The quarterly publication (cid:145)Inforegio Panorama(cid:146) aims to give a voice to those involved in regional
development who receive part-financing from the European Regional Development Fund and thereby
enables experiences to be exchanged. The format of the magazine aims to build on these experiences and
its costs are in line the with average expenditure on booklets on regional policy. Total production costs
amount to € 55 810. Changes to current page-setting would involve an increase in these costs.

(cid:145)Inforegio Panorama(cid:146)
partners and anyone interested in regional policy. The first edition had a print-run of 50 790.

is sent to national, regional and local authorities, the Commission(cid:146)s institutional

The paper used for the cover of the first edition did not correspond to the purchase order due to an error
at the printing stage which was not invoiced to the Commission. The next covers of (cid:145)Inforegio Panorama(cid:146)
will be printed on unlaminated paper.

(2001/C 174 E/178)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3874/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Subject: The arms trade

Thanks to oil profits Middle Eastern countries are once again investing in the military sector. This year
countries such as Saudi Arabia,
Israel and the Arab Emirates will devote $ 60 billion to military
expenditure, 5 % more than the current budget.

As a consequence of this the United States has allocated new funding for defence, whilst Europe, with the
exception of the United Kingdom, is reducing its military budget by 6 %.

Can the Commission launch a programme of measures to discourage the buying and selling of arms based
on:

1.

2.

3.

asking the oil-producing countries to comply with the measures adopted at the Caracas summit
regarding the reduction in the price of oil;

a ban on the illegal trade in diamonds in order to prevent profits from being turned into weapons;

urging the EU countries to increase the funding available for military research and development,
precisely in order to meet the commitment to set up a joint European army?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2001)

1.

The Commission has no competence to initiate actions in this context.

2.
The Commission supports the Kimberley process launched by the African diamond producers and
actively participates in international efforts to find a solution to the (cid:145)diamonds for weapons(cid:146) problem
(ministerial meeting of 21 September 2000 in Pretoria and international meeting of 25-26 October 2000
in London).

3.

The Commission has no competence to deal with this matter.