WRITTEN QUESTION E-0912/01 by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. The Leader programme in St Hubert (Belgium).
Date: 2001-03-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, EU financing, EU programme, environmental protection, rural development, sports facilities

C 340 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2001)

On 20 March 2001, the Commission adopted a communication from the Commission to the Council, the
the Regionsentitled (cid:145)The
Parliament,
Introduction of Third Generation Mobile Communications in the European Union: State of Play and the
Way Forward.(cid:146) (1)

the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of

This Communication gives a brief analysis on the current state of deployment of third generation (3G)
mobile communications network and services, and proposes a certain number of actions including
facilitating the deployment of 3G networks under the current legal framework is examined. As part of this
process,
it is proposed to address inter alia the conditions to be met in order to (cid:145)permit network
infrastructure sharing, which the Commission considers in principle positively due to its potential
the competition rules and the provisions of other relevant
economic gains, on the condition that
Community law are respected.(cid:146)

The Commission has already taken the initiative to contact national regulatory authorities with a view to
discussing the matter further. Furthermore, exchanges with industry aimed at clarifying the technical scope
of network infrastructure sharing are being undertaken,
in order to fully understand the regulatory
implications. The Commission aims at establishing a consensus on the conditions under which network
infrastructure sharing can be conceived, taking into account the existing legislation. Such a consensus
would allow national regulatory authorities to take the necessary steps falling under their responsibility,
while ensuring a co-ordinated Community approach overall.

(1) COM(2001) 141 final.

(2001/C 340 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0912/01

by Paul Lannoye (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: The Leader programme in St Hubert (Belgium)

(28 March 2001)

The Community has accepted the project submitted by the St Hubert (Belgium) Local Action Group,
relating to the Val de Poi, for funding under the Leader programme.

This project is intended to contribute to the harmonious development of the valley and comprises general
promotion measures, signposting of walks, making of a video, enhancement of the local heritage, creation
of a job agency, and installation of showcases for local produce. It began in December 1999, has been
operational since January 2000 and ends in June 2001. The EU(cid:146)s financial participation amounts to
BEF 18 million.

On the same site there are plans to build a massive sports complex costing BEF 662 million, an (cid:145)Olympic
valley(cid:146) for the training of high-level athletes in shooting, running, cycling and even equestrian events.

This project has been criticised by a number of politicians and associations because of the damage it risks
causing to the environment, thus detracting from the valley(cid:146)s attractiveness to tourists. It even seems that
subsidies from Leader have been used for studies on this project which infringes the very spirit of the
tourist project for which the Leader funds were intended.

Can the Commission:

(cid:129) confirm that a sports project is not eligible under the Leader programme,

(cid:129) say whether it is acceptable for projects subsidised under Leader to have a leverage effect on sports
projects which damage the environment and detract from the value of the Val de Poix for tourism,

(cid:129) say whether it might not be advisable to investigate the use of European funds for this project and

reclaim sums unduly paid?

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/123

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(17 May 2001)

On 15 June 1994 the Commission, under Article 11 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of
19 December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards
coordination of the activities of the different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations
of the European Investment Bank and the other existing financial instruments (1), as amended by Council
Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 of 20 July 1993 (2), decided on the Leader II Community Initiative. On
19 June 1997 it approved the Leader II operational programme for the Objective 5(b) zones of the
Wallonia Region. The Community assistance approved was € 3 318 466.

Leader II is to be implemented as close to the ground as possible, with maximum involvement of local and
regional partners. This is why the Commission negotiates, in partnership with each Member State, the
content of the programmes drawn up by the regional authorities. Local action groups are then invited to
make their (cid:145)rural innovation programme(cid:146) proposals for inclusion in the regional programme adopted. The
selection of the LAGs is by a decision-taking partnership at regional level.

Chapter V Implementation of the Notice to Member States (3) for Leader II states that the Commission will
no longer participate directly in project and recipient selection. Thus it has no information on the actual
LAG projects within any operational programme.

This means that the Leader II Wallonia operational programme in the Commission(cid:146)s possession does not
the (cid:145)Olympic valley(cid:146) project. Sport-related projects are not
allow it
automatically ineligible but Annex I
investments in
to the Notice to Member States states that
infrastructure are ineligible except for very small-scale ones to be defined in partnership.

to confirm any financing of

On environmental impact, Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on assessment of the effects of
certain public and private projects on the environment (4), as amended by Council Directive 97/11/EC of
3 March 1997 (5), covers infrastructure projects, including urban development works (Annex II, point 10b).

The Commission will ask the responsible authorities for more information on the Val de Poix project and
any links it has with the (cid:145)Olympic valley(cid:146) project. This will be forwarded to the Honourable Member with
all speed.

(1) OJ L 374, 31.12.1988.
(2) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.
(3) OJ C 180, 1.7.1994.
(4) OJ L 175, 5.7.1985.
(5) OJ L 73, 14.3.1997.

(2001/C 340 E/141)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0919/01

by Rosa D(cid:237)ez GonzÆlez (PSE)
and Mar(cid:237)a Sornosa Mart(cid:237)nez (PSE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Implementation of the Annex to Decision 647/97 (Support for persons with HIV/AIDS and

combating discrimination) in Spain

By means of a decree issued in March 2000, the Spanish Government considerably tightened up the
conditions for granting invalidity status to AIDS sufferers. As a result, over one hundred of the 11 000
HIV-positive recipients of an invalidity pension have already lost their entitlement to it.