WRITTEN QUESTION E-0942/01 by Johannes Voggenhuber (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Conclusion of an aid contract with the designated Austrian national agency for the EU's Youth programme.
Date: 2001-03-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, EU programme, type of business, young person

C 350 E/62

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 2001)

The Commission officially received the report referred to by the Honourable Member at the beginning of
March 2001 and is currently studying it.

Any examination of an evaluation report must ensure that the evaluation work was carried out in
accordance with standard practice and meets the minimum quality requirements. Where an evaluation
report draws conclusions, it is important to examine whether the conclusions are tied to the context in
which the measures were applied or if they have a wider significance.

The Swedish evaluation report to which the Honourable Member refers was drawn up in accordance with
the Community guidelines requiring the Member States to assess the impact of the measures on the
processing and marketing of agricultural products. In particular, the guidelines call for answers to a number
of common assessment questions covering competitiveness, the situation of the basic agricultural products,
the environment, and the implementation and targeting of the measures. They also recommend that the
Member States should assess the quality of the individual reports by reference to eight standard criteria.

All the Member States must send the Commission evaluation reports on these measures by 30 September
2001. About forty reports have been announced. The Commission plans to conduct an assessment at
Community level, essentially based on the reports provided by the Member States, and intends to publicise
the results of the survey. For the reasons indicated above, it is not possible at present to arrive at a verdict
on the validity of the conclusions of the Swedish study to which the Honourable Member refers.

The Commission notes that, for the 2000-2006 programming period, the Swedish authorities decided to
continue with the processing and marketing measure, as is permitted under Council Regulation (EC)
No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (1). However, in
the light of the conclusions of the above report, they opted for a more targeted approach, focusing the
measure on small and medium-sized enterprises.

(1) OJ L 160, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 350 E/067)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0942/01

by Johannes Voggenhuber (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Conclusion of an aid contract with the designated Austrian national agency for the EU(cid:146)s (cid:145)Youth(cid:146)

programme

The Republic of Austria has designated EuroTech Management Consulting GmbH as the Austrian national
agency for the EU(cid:146)s (cid:145)Youth(cid:146) programme.

This appointment may be in contravention of Commission directives. In particular, as a (cid:145)GmbH(cid:146) (limited
liability company) EuroTech is by definition a profit-making organisation and has expressed a gainful
intent with regard to its activity as a national agency. An inquiry is under way in Austria.

Was there any reason why the Commission did not continue to use the existing national agency? Why was
EuroTech preferred to the existing national agency?

What specific experience and specialist competencies does EuroTech have in the field of youth exchanges,
international/intercultural education, the further training of youth workers, the handling of EU action
programmes and/or the management of EU funds on behalf of third parties? Did EuroTech have staff with
appropriate qualifications at the time when it was nominated?

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/63

Is it possible that EuroTech will make a profit through its activity as national agency? Is it not the logical
conclusion from Commission directives that only a (cid:145)non-profit-making(cid:146) organisation can be used as
a national agency?

Is the Commission planning to cofinance the Austrian national agency to the maximum amount of 50 %,
even though EuroTech(cid:146)s gross contract price is some € 40 000 higher than that of other tenderers?

Is it true that EuroTech is planning to invest only about half as many man-hours as other tenderers in its
activity as national agency, even though the gross costs are higher?

Would an aid contract between the Commission and EuroTech be in contravention of the law?

What is the potential damage to the Commission if it concludes an aid contract with EuroTech and the
supervisory bodies to whom an appeal has been made subsequently declare the grant to EuroTech to be
illegal?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

The Community YOUTH programme is implemented through a network of national agencies. The
Commission has adopted provisions, after the approval by the YOUTH Programme Committee, relating to
the responsibilities of the Commission and of the Member States concerning the national agencies.

According to the provisions, the authorities in the Member States are responsible for the designation of an
agency in their country. In Austria, the Federal Ministry of Social Security and Generations has designated
EuroTech as national agency following a call for tender.

In addition, the provisions establish the minimum requirements, which apply to the national agencies.
According to the provisions the body designated as the national agency must, among other things, have at
their disposal personnel qualified for administrative work in an environment of international co-operation.
Language, management, financial management and computer skills as well as knowledge on the youth
sector are very desirable.

The Commission has verified that the appointed national agency complies with these requirements. For
this purpose, the Commission has visited EuroTech in their premises in Vienna. The personnel of EuroTech
covers a wide range of competencies including experience with youth research, management of
Community programmes and funds (including the European Voluntary Service) as well as general
management and financial management skills. The proposed organisation and number of man-hours seem
to be appropriate for the expected tasks.

The Community contribution is limited to 50 % of the operating costs of the agency. The contribution is
calculated on the real operating costs of the agency and excludes any possible profits.

The Commission will, in the contract with the new agency, protect its interest with regard to any possible
outcome of the ongoing appeal.

(2001/C 350 E/068)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0952/01

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Notification of fiscal policy changes

Does the Commission believe that the Finance Ministers of the Member States should notify any intended
fiscal policy changes to the Commission before they are announced or implemented? If so, why?