WRITTEN QUESTION E-0154/01 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Orderly operation of the Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans.
Date: 2001-01-31
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Agency for Reconstruction, Serbia and Montenegro, administrative autonomy, administrative transparency, operation of the Institutions, recruitment

C 235 E/134

Official Journal of the European Communities

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21.8.2001

2666/2000 (1)). In view of the legitimate concerns of the European public over the (cid:145)Balkans syndrome(cid:146),
why should this agency not be given the additional task of combining environmental rehabilitation with
the simultaneous provision of information and assistance to local residents?

(1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(30 March 2001)

As the Honourable Member is aware, the investigation of the alleged (cid:145)Balkans syndrome(cid:146) is still ongoing in
various fora. UNEP and the Community(cid:146)s Article 31 Committee have concluded that there is no immediate
environmental or health risk. Should it be decided, to implement specific Community environmental
rehabilitation programmes in this regard, it is most probable that the European Agency for Reconstruction
would be responsible for the implementation of such Community programmes and associated information
tasks. However, the primary responsibility for providing information to local residents as regards potential
issues of public health and environment lies with the governments of the States concerned. Environmental
aspects are, wherever relevant, an integral part, where relevant, of programmes implemented by the
Agency, in line with Article 2(2)(d) of Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 of 5 December 2000 on
assistance for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 and amending Regulations (EEC)
No 3906/89 and (EEC) No 1360/90 and Decisions 97/256/EC and 1999/311/EC.

(2001/C 235 E/144)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0154/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Orderly operation of the Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans

The Agency for the Reconstruction of the Balkans has extended its activities to Serbia and Montenegro.
Branches need to be set up in Podgorica and Belgrade so that it can carry out its duties. Can the
Commission provide information on the staffing of these services? How will staff be hired in these two
areas, and how will transparency be ensured?

Why did the Commission suggest that for 2001 the number of meetings of the governing board of the
committee referred to in Article 10 of Regulation 2666/2000 (1) be reduced from 12 to 4, at a time when
the volume of work is increasing due to the extension of the committee(cid:146)s responsibilities to the above
areas?

(1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2001)

As the Honourable Member is aware, the European Agency for Reconstruction is an autonomous agency
with full independence in the management of its administrative functions. As far as the set up of its
operational centres in Belgrade and Podgorica is concerned, the Agency is currently in the process of
hiring the best qualified professionals to implement the Community assistance programmes in the region.
Most of the posts for these two offices have been published in the international press and on the websites
of the Commission and the Agency.

The Director of the European Agency for Reconstruction regularly informs the Governing Board of the
Agency, composed of the Commission and the representatives of the Member States, of the staffing levels

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and recruitment procedures of the Agency. The latest information on recruitment progress was provided
by the Director at the meeting of the Governing Board that took place in Thessaloniki on 15 December
2000, which approved a new Staffing Table (33 international and 61 local staff for Belgrade, and 7
international and 10 local staff for Podgorica).

The provisions of Article 10 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 of 5 December 2000 on assistance
for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, repealing Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 and amending Regulations (EEC) No 3906/
89 and (EEC) No 1360/90 and Decisions 97/256/EC and 1999/311/EC, do not apply to the Governing
Board of the Agency but to the Management Committee established under the CARDS programme. As far
as the number of meetings of the Governing Board is concerned, the Commission has followed the
principles laid down in Article 4(9) of the Council Regulation No 2667/2000 on the European Agency for
Reconstruction (1) which stipulates that the governing board shall be convened by the Chairman whenever
necessary and at least once every three months. This Regulation was adopted by the Council, which agreed
with the Commission that it would be more operationally efficient for the Board to plan to meet every
3 months, instead of every 4 weeks.

However, as the Commission chairs the Governing Board of the Agency, it may, if workload or other
reasons make it necessary, propose additional meetings or meetings of longer duration. Meetings can also
be convened at the request of the Agency(cid:146)s Director or at least a simple majority of its members.

(1) OJ L 306, 7.12.2000.

(2001/C 235 E/145)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0158/01

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(31 January 2001)

Subject: Delay in the provision of ERDF funds to Malaga University

Some of the projects planned for the near future by the current governing body of Malaga University in
Spain have been on hold since last spring, as they await the resources they need from ERDF funds.

This is the situation as set out to Malaga University(cid:146)s teaching staff by its vice-chancellor. The university
has requested ESP 2 billion from ERDF funds over the next two years, which would be spent on its medical
research centre,
its skills centre at the Andalusia Technology Park, communications networks and the
purchase of equipment for its research departments.

Will the Commission give the reason for the delay in the provision of ERDF funds to Malaga University
cited by its vice-chancellor, and say how the difficulties preventing those funds from being used for the
aforementioned purposes could be overcome?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

Part-financing from the Structural Funds for projects located in Andalusia is dependent on approval by the
Commission first of the Community support framework (CSF) for the Spanish Objective 1 regions and
then of
the other multiregional
programmes likely to provide assistance in this region, in particular that devoted to research, development
and innovation. The national authorities have then to draw up the programme complement for approval
by the Monitoring Committee for the various items of assistance.

the integrated operational programme (OP)

for Andalusia and of