WRITTEN QUESTION P-0347/01 by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission. Delays in making exploratory award payments under the Craft programme for SMEs pursuant to the Fifth framework programme.
Date: 2001-02-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, administrative formalities, exchange of information, payment, report, small and medium-sized enterprises

21.8.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 235 E/183

In the light of the above remarks, will the Commission not alter its stance and bring proceedings against
Italy in respect of its adoption of legislative decree 342/99 of 4 August 1999 and decree law No 393 of
29 December 2000, which are in breach of Articles 3, 10. 81, 82 and 86 of the Treaty, and against the
ABI for infringement of Article 82 of the Treaty?

(1) OJ L 43, 13.2.1987, p. 51.
(2) OJ L 386, 30.12.1989, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 386, 30.12.1989, p. 14.

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2001)

As far as the issues raised by the Honourable Member are concerned, the following comments can be
made.

First of all, the Commission wishes to bring to the attention of the Honourable Member that it has had
a meeting with a representative of the Associazione Difesa Utenti Servizi Bancari Finanziari Postali
Assicurativi (ADUSBEF) to discuss the problems concerning (cid:145)anatocism(cid:146) and other alleged abusive practices
carried out by Italian banking intermediaries. On the occasion of that meeting a submission/complaint,
together with numerous annexes, was submitted to the Commission. This submission/complaint, even
though it regards several points which were dealt in the previous petition no. 234/00, provides further
elements for the assessment of possible infringements of the EC Treaty provisions on competition on the
part of ABI (Associazione Bancaria Italiana). Consequently, the Commission opened an investigation in
order to ascertain the existence of those infringements; depending on the outcome, the investigation might
lead to the opening of an infringement procedure against ABI and/or the Italian government.

As concerns the admissibility of the submissions regarding Law 108/96 on usury, the Commission wishes
to point out that a copy of the submission submitted by ABI and AIBE (Associazione italiana Banche
Estere), to which the Honourable Member refers, and a copy of the subsequent petition presented by the
European Banking Federation, has been sent to the Italian government for comments. That is the usual
practice with such complaints. Such a procedure does not imply a consequent decision on admissibility;
the Commission always invites the concerned governments to submit
their observations when an
complaint concerns a matter within its competence. In the letter enclosing the petition of the European
Banking Federation, the Commission invited the Italian government to clarify by 20 February 2001 the
contents of the Legislative Decree no. 394 of 29 December 2000 and the reasons which had justified it.
The date of 20 February 2001 has been extended for a month in order to take into account the new rules
adopted by law No 24, on 28 February 2001.

(2001/C 235 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0347/01

by Samuli Pohjamo (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 February 2001)

Subject: Delays in making exploratory award payments under the Craft programme for SMEs pursuant to

the Fifth framework programme

Numerous delays have occurred in making exploratory award payments under the Craft programme for
small SMEs, which forms part of the Commission(cid:146)s Fifth framwork programme. Procedures should be
simplified, as more businesses would then be interested in applying for funding, and more and better
applications would be received.

In my view, the appraisal results should be communicated direct to the coordinator when the appraisal has
been completed. At present, results are notified 13 weeks after the date of application, although as a rule
the appraisal is performed immediately after the application has been completed.

Payment documents relating to exploratory award payments should be simplified. At present a payment
request form and a short report on activities are required. The latter document is pointless, as the
Commission and the coordinator have concluded an exploratory award contract, in which the coordinator

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21.8.2001

undertakes to make the application in accordance with the contract. SMEs could be saved trouble and the
Commission could be spared the need to receive and consider tens of thousands of pages of documents
each year. The time taken to process payments could be reduced from the current 60 days to 30.

Applicants should be given a single fax number or e-mail address to which all inquiries about Craft matters
could be sent, and these should be answered within seven days. The rules governing SME Specific Measures
Cooperative Research (CRAFT) should be simplified and updated.

How will the Commission improve the above situation?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2001)

The Commission has already implemented steps to improve the situation with regard to several of the
issues raised by the Honourable Member, and is actively pursuing further improvements.

the evaluation results, a (cid:145)Quick Information(cid:146)
Concerning the time delays in notifying proposers of
procedure was introduced in May 2000, by which proposers are informed of the results as soon as 6-8
weeks after the cut-off date.

To accommodate small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs(cid:146)) contacts with the Commission(cid:146)s research
programmes, a (cid:145)Single Entry Point(cid:146) has been established. Its central help-desk is handling all requests, either
directly or by sign-posting callers to the most appropriate services for the particular issue. This help-desk
has a policy of responding within 24 hours.

With regard to the contractual deliverables of Exploratory Awards, an activity report is indeed needed to
confirm that the contractual work has been executed or, if applicable, to explain any deviations from it.
Nevertheless all efforts are made to minimise any additional work this may cause for the SMEs.

Further simplifications of SME-specific project types have a high priority in the preparation of new and
improved measures for the upcoming Sixth research and technological development framwork pro-
gramme.

(2001/C 235 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0352/01

by Karin Riis-Jłrgensen (ELDR) to the Commission

(6 February 2001)

Subject: Cooperation agreement between Lufthansa and SAS

The cooperation agreement between Lufthansa and SAS was originally approved on condition that it
would benefit consumers financially. This has not happened, however, and it has instead substantially
restricted competition, as the two airlines, which formerly competed against each other, have eliminated
competition as a result of their close cooperation.

The agreement has had two disadvantages in particular, namely higher fares and fewer departures, both of
which are bad news for consumers, and thus conflicts with the whole underlying aim of the special
authorisation granted by the Commission six years ago.