WRITTEN QUESTION E-0957/01 by Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR) to the Commission. Decision on setting up an Enterprise Policy Group (EPG).
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU industrial policy, European Commission, European Economic and Social Committee, administration of the Institutions, administrative expenditure (EU), advisory committee (EU), division of powers

4.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 340 E/133

The European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), adopted on 10/11 May 1999 at the close of the
Informal Council of Community Ministers responsible for Spatial Planning, serves as a policy framework
for the Member States, their regions and local authorities and the Commission in their aim of achieving
a balanced and sustainable development of the European territory.

Several policy options of the ESDP explicitly mention the common problems of coastal areas. The ESDP
supports effective methods of
reducing uncontrolled urban expansion and reduction of excessive
settlement pressure, particularly in coastal regions, and encourages the preparation of integrated spatial
development strategies for protected areas, such as coastal areas, balancing protection and development on
the basis of territorial and environmental impact assessments and involving the partners concerned.

To take concrete steps in applying the ESDP and to improve knowledge, research and information on
territorial development, the Commission will co-finance through the Community Initiative Interreg III the
setting up of a European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) for the period 2001-2006
(€ 6 million over the period 2001-2006).

The ESPON Guidelines for the period 2001-2006 include research on the evaluation of trends affecting
certain groups of territories (cid:145)at risk(cid:146), such as coastal areas, and the territorial management of climate
changes (impact of measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases; anticipation of territorial impacts of
climate changes) among the topics to be developed.

(1) COM(2000) 547 final.
(2) COM(2000) 545 final.

(2001/C 340 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0957/01

by Lousewies van der Laan (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Decision on setting up an Enterprise Policy Group (EPG)

(30 March 2001)

Article 257 of the EC Treaty provides for the creation of an Economic and Social Committee (ESC) which
has been advising the Commission since 1957. Nevertheless, on 8 November 2000 the Commission
adopted a decision to set up an advisory committee, called the (cid:145)Enterprise Policy Group(cid:146), whose task is to
advise the Commission on business policy. In some cases experts will receive a fixed allowance of up to
€ 500 a day for their advice.

Can the Commission explain why this Group(cid:146)s tasks cannot be performed by the ESC? By setting up
a separate (cid:145)Enterprise Policy Group(cid:146) is the Commission expressing doubts as to the added value of the
advice of the ESC? How can the Commission justify incurring costs for obtaining advice which is available
elsewhere free of charge? Did members of the ESC respond to the invitation, and have they been included
in the (cid:145)Enterprise Policy Group(cid:146)?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(9 July 2001)

The Economic and Social Committee is a consultative body of the European Community made up of
representatives of the various economic and social groups. Its membership must take account of the need
to ensure adequate representation for those groups. The EC Treaty lays down the instances in which the
Committee must be consulted, and the Commission recognises and fully respects its powers. In particular,
the Committee gives its opinion on the legislative proposals made by the Commission in the cases laid
down by the Treaty. However, before this happens, the Commission must draft its proposals and in this it
has the power of initiative. In order to ensure that its initiatives are consistent, coherent, realistic and
applicable, the Commission surrounds itself with the technical expertise it considers necessary. For this,
a specific structure for consultation is required, and it is within this structure that the Enterprise Policy
Group to which the Honourable Member refers was set up by Commission Decision 2000/690/EC of
8 November 2000 (1), with the task of advising the Commission on enterprise policy issues.

C 340 E/134

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.12.2001

Current and former members of the Economic and Social Committee are being considered for membership
of the Group. The functions of Group member are not remunerated. The daily allowance of € 500 to
which the Honourable Member refers was provided for by the Decision setting up the Group. It is
intended to facilitate the participation of owners or employees of small and medium-sized enterprises,
since it is in particular those working full-time in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) whose
opinion interests the Commission.

The Commission finds that the advantages of thoroughly preparing its proposals and other initiatives in
areas contributing towards the economic wealth of our society are ample justification for the costs
incurred. It should be remembered that the Group was set up in order to rationalise the Commission(cid:146)s
work, as indicated in the second recital of Decision 2000/690/EC, and that it replaces several committees
or groups which existed previously under the auspices of the Commission in the area of enterprise policy.

(1) OJ L 285, 10.11.2000.

(2001/C 340 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0963/01

by Philip Bradbourn (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 March 2001)

Subject: Vehicle registration plates

Will the European Commission please justify provisions which prohibit the display of the national flag of
Member States on vehicle registration plates but which at the same time permit the display of the
European Union flag?

Will it further review the appropriate legislation and allow Member States to determine for themselves
what is permissible in this respect, since the prohibition of a Member State(cid:146)s national symbol under any
circumstance hits at the very core of national sovereignty?

Anwer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(3 May 2001)

There is no Community legislation either prohibitting the use of any national symbol in motor vehicles
number plates or imposing the use of the European flag.

Therefore it is a matter for individual Member States to decide if they want to introduce or not national
symbols in their number plates.

Concerning the use of the Community flag in number plates, Council Regulation (EC) No 2411/98 of
3 November 1998 (1)
the
the mutual
distinguishing sign of the Member State in which motor vehicles and their trailers are registered.

recognition in intra-Community traffic of

just provides for

The Commission has no intention to propose to modify the Council Regulation.

(1) OJ L 299, 10.11.1998.