WRITTEN QUESTION P-0226/01 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council. Legal basis for stabilisation and association agreements.
Date: 2001-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: North Macedonia, association agreement (EU), interinstitutional relations (EU), legal basis

C 81 E/2

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

(2002/C 81 E/003)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0005/01

by Brice Hortefeux (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 January 2001)

Subject: Distribution and use of Community financial aid in the Auvergne region from 1994 to 2000

During the programming period 1994-2000 Clermont-Ferrand and the Auvergne region benefited from
Community aid and subsidies under the structural funds, and also under other Community programmes in
the fields of culture, education, research, the environment, aid to SMEs and small industry, etc.

Can the European Commission say what programmes Clermont-Ferrand and the Auvergne region

1.
benefited from during the 1994-2000 programming period?

2.
Can the Commission say what sums were allocated to Clermont-Ferrand and the Auvergne region
and their beneficiaries each year between 1994 and 2000, if necessary making a distinction between
commitment appropriations and payment appropriations?

Is the Commission satisfied with the implementation of appropriations under the various Community

3.
programmes in Clermont-Ferrand and the Auvergne region during the period 1994-2000?

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Further to its answer of 29 January 2001 (1), the Commission is sending the information requested direct
to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(1) OJ C 151 E, 22.5.2001.

(2002/C 81 E/004)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0226/01

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Council

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Legal basis for stabilisation and association agreements

In spite of repeated commitments and statements by the European Union vis-(cid:224)-vis the Balkan states (cid:129)
those commitments having been reiterated recently at the Zaghreb Conference (cid:129) the process of defining
the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the EU and Macedonia, designed to serve as the basis
for all future agreements, risks ending in stalemate, should the Council Secretariat carry through its
intention to put forward a specific legal basis for stabilisation and association agreements based on the
articles of the Treaty on European Union relating to justice and home affairs and the CFSP. Such a move
would be bound to have serious implications. First and foremost it would be tantamount to an indefinite
postponement of the conclusion of the Agreement, with obvious repercussions for Macedonia. Moreover,
it would inevitably be interpreted by public opinion in Macedonia and in the other countries due to sign
similar agreements as a further indication of the lack of genuine interest in the region concerned on the
part of the Union. Lastly,
it would mark a new stage in the ongoing moves to chip away at the
Commission(cid:146)s powers.

Is the Council fully aware of how far-reaching and serious the implications of establishing a specific legal
basis for stabilisation and association agreements would be? Furthermore, is it aware that making such a
proposal official would risk sparking off an interinstitutional dispute which might be referred to the Court
of Justice in Luxembourg?

4.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/3

Reply

(20 November 2001)

The Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was signed
at the General Affairs Council on 9 April. The legal base of the Decision to sign was identical to that
proposed by the Commission, i.e. the TEC and in particular Article 310 in conjunction with the first
subparagraph of Article 300(2).

As far as the Commission(cid:146)s proposal for a Council and Commission Decision on the conclusion of the
Stabilisation and Association Agreement is concerned, the legal basis proposed by the Commission is the
TEC and in particular Article 310 thereof in conjunction with Article 300(2), first subparagraph, and
Article 300(3), second subparagraph thereof,
the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel
in particular Article 95 thereof and the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy
Community,
Community, in particular the second paragraph of Article 101 thereof. The Council has reached a common
orientation on this legal basis, as proposed by the Commission, and this was also the basis upon which the
Council requested the Parliament(cid:146)s assent. The Parliament gave its assent on 2 May 2001.

Member States have ratified the Stabilisation and Association Agreement nationally. Once these procedures
have been completed, the Council and Commission Decision on the conclusion of the Agreement can take
place. In the meantime, an Interim Agreement will cover the commercial parts of the Stabilisation and
Association Agreement. The Interim Agreement will enter into force on 1 June this year.

(2002/C 81 E/005)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0307/01

by Pietro-Paolo Mennea (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Violence against referees at football matches

(2 February 2001)

In the Italian football league, acts of violence against referees have become an extremely serious problem,
both with regard to the personal safety of the referees themselves and because they set an extremely bad
example for society as a whole. As is borne out by press reports and statements made by referees(cid:146)
representatives, referees are increasingly being subjected to psychological pressure and actual physical
threats. For instance, to take but two examples of the huge number of recent incidents, death threats were
made against a referee during a Serie A match, and, at a (cid:145)Promozione(cid:146) (amateur league) match held on
3 December 2000 in San Cassiano (Lecce) in Puglia, the referee was actually threatened with a gun in the
changing rooms.

Given the above, what action does the Commission intend to take, over and above the measures already
provided for in such cases, with a view to at least curbing such violence. Would it not agree that special
provision should be made in the relevant support programmes for measures to combat violence in sport?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2001)

Like the Honourable Member, the Commission is concerned by the phenomenon of violence in sport,
particularly against referees.

In the Helsinki report on sport (1), the Commission manifested its attachment to ethical sport which could
serve as a model for all who practice sport, particularly the young. It noted that violence at sporting events
is unacceptable. It also emphasised the need for convergent endeavours by all the partners in the field of
sport, with due respect for the principle of subsidiarity. However, as regards the issue of violence in
stadiums and the protection of referees, responsibility rests primarily with the Member States in association
with the organisers of sporting events, normally sports associations or federations.