WRITTEN QUESTION E-1011/01 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Rules governing the minimum number of rooms available in rural-tourism properties.
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, EAGGF Guidance Section, hotel industry, rural development, rural tourism

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/181

According to the timetable set by the Spanish government, the plant will be up and running by 2002.

It should also be noted that under the terms of Directive 91/271/EEC (2), all urban areas with a population
equivalent (PE) (3) higher than 15 000 should at the latest by 31 December 2000 have been equipped with
collection and secondary (i.e. biological) treatment systems.

The Commission is currently checking whether all the Community(cid:146)s main urban centres are in compliance
with this Directive and will in the course of 2001 be in a position to initiate infringement proceedings
against any Member States found to have overrun this deadline. As far as Spain is concerned, the
Commission is aware of the delays and will be initiating a general infringement procedure covering all
towns and cities (cid:129) including, as the case may be, Ronda (cid:129) found to be in breach of these obligations.

(1) Decision C(2000) 4319.
(2) Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment (OJ L 135, 30.5.1991).
(3) Unit of measure of organic pollution, representing average pollution produced per person, per day.

(2001/C 318 E/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1011/01

by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Rules governing the minimum number of rooms available in rural-tourism properties

The leaders of the Andalusia Regional Government in Spain have proposed that rules should be laid down
concerning the minimum number of rooms which properties are required to have if they are to qualify as
being suitable for use as rural-tourism accommodation.

This proposal has taken the sector by surprise since in rural areas the characteristics of such properties
vary immensely and cannot be made to fit models which have been defined in advance.

Would the Commission say whether or not rural-tourism properties (such as exist in the various EU
Member States) are required to have a minimum number of rooms in order to be able to provide
accommodation in accordance with the traditional accommodation criteria prevailing in rural areas?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2001)

The Commission provides part-financing for regional development programmes in Andalusia, with a large
proportion being earmarked for the development of rural areas.

Measures that may qualify for funding under the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural Guidance
and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) include incentives for tourism activities. These take the form of schemes
which must comply with the requirements set out in the operational programme or in the document
known as the (cid:145)programme complement(cid:146) or in mandatory provisions laid down by the authorities
responsible for administering the tourism facilities.

the operational programme and the programme complement

Examination of
reveals no special
requirements regarding tourism activities attracting funding from the EAGGF. The rules referred to by
the Honourable Member must comply with the administrative rules for which the Member State alone has
responsibility.

On the specific question put by the Honourable Member the answer is as follows: the Commission has no
responsibility in this area and accordingly has no information about the minimum number of rooms that
must be available in rural tourism properties in the various Member States if accommodation is to be
provided. This type of information can be obtained direct from the Member States and in some cases from
the regions.