WRITTEN QUESTION E-0459/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Hainaut Objective 1 region.
Date: 2001-02-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU regional policy, Province of Hainault, head office, investment aid, less-favoured region, regional aid, social dumping, transfer of businesses

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/47

(2001/C 318 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0459/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 February 2001)

Subject: Hainaut Objective 1 region

According to the Commission, it is still too soon to say how many businesses based in West Flanders will
move their registered offices to Hainaut in order to obtain European subsidies for the programme period
2000-2006. Between 1994 and 1999 about fifty businesses apparently surrendered to the enticement to
move from Flanders to Hainaut.

Can the Commission state:

1. What businesses are involved?

2. Why these West Flanders businesses have relocated in Hainaut, bearing in mind that (cid:145)the Community(cid:146)s
has (cid:133) a particular interest where a firm undertaking a relocation has been supported by public funds
either in its present or future location(cid:146)?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0408/01 and E-0459/01
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 May 2001)

Within the context of an Objective 1 programme, such as the one for the province of Hainaut in Belgium,
support to enterprises can be given only in case of investments which are implemented in the geographical
programme area. Whether or not a company has its registered office within or outside the programme
area is irrelevant when it comes to the possible eligibility of its investments for support under the
programme. Therefore, the Commission is of the opinion that the study suggested by the Honourable
Member, which would focus on changes of registered offices, is not a useful way of gauging the possible
impacts of the Hainaut Objective 1 programme.

The impact of the programme,
in terms of the location of production or service facilities, could be
considered only at the level of decisions of companies to invest in the programme area. However,
investment decisions are guided by a multitude of factors. It would most probably be difficult, if not
impossible, at micro-economic level to single out the role of an Objective 1 programme in such decisions.
Moreover, counterbalancing effects would have to be taken into account, since large areas of the province
of West-Vlaanderen itself are eligible for support under the Objective 2 programme (cid:145)Kustgebied-Westhoek(cid:146).

In any case,
it would be premature now to consider the question whether the Hainaut 2000-2006
programme will lead to a shift of investments from West-Vlaanderen to Hainaut: this issue could only be
addressed after a substantial part of the programme has been implemented.

Concerning the 1994-1999 programming period, the Commission will address a request to the authorities
of the Walloon Region, requesting a list of enterprises which have their registered office in West-Flanders
and have benefited from support for investments in the context of the 1994-1999 Hainaut Objective 1
programme.

(2001/C 318 E/049)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0421/01

by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 February 2001)

Subject: Market in beef

In view of the obvious reduction in the consumption of beef in the European Union, has the Commission
estimated the amount of beef required for internal consumption in the EU in the medium term, and has it