WRITTEN QUESTION P-1505/01 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Quebec agreement and EU ‐ Mercosur relations.
Date: 2001-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Mercosur, common commercial policy, trade agreement, trade relations

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/171

(2001/C 350 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1499/01

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(11 May 2001)

Subject: Programme to strengthen the economic competitiveness of frontier regions

The Nice European Council called upon the Commission to propose a programme for the frontier regions
in order to strengthen their economic competitiveness (see paragraph 7 of the Presidency conclusions).
This request was prompted by the fact that, if the European Union is enlarged, businesses and employees
in the regions bordering on the applicant countries will be exposed to particularly harsh competition on
account of the huge wage differentials between the applicant countries and the neighbouring EU Member
States. In its Communication on its work programme for 2001 (COM(2001) 28 final), the Commission
itself states that, as a follow-up to the second report on cohesion, it will submit a Communication on the
EU(cid:146)s frontier regions.

Against this background, would the Commission answer the following questions:

(cid:129) In its work programme for 2001, why does the Commission provide only for the submission of
a Communication on the EU(cid:146)s frontier regions when the European Council called specifically for the
drawing up of a programme designed to strengthen the economic competitiveness of those regions?

(cid:129) What stage has been reached in the preparations for submitting such a programme?

(cid:129) What sort of conditions and measures designed to strengthen the economic competitiveness of border
regions are contained in the programme, how much funding is to be allocated and when are the
measures in question to be implemented?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2001)

The Commission is currently preparing a Communication on border regions which will analyse the socio-
economic situation of regions bordering candidate countries, evaluate the potential impact of enlargement
on these regions, examine the Community instruments in place and evaluate if further measures need to be
taken to support border regions. This Communication will include a number of specific measures which
the Commission will pursue as a single Community action for border regions and which can help to
ensure a smooth transition while helping to sustain public confidence with regard to enlargement.

This Community action to support border regions is likely to be adopted by the Commission before the
summer break.

Issues such as structure and form of support, starting date, the possibility and level of Community co-
financing will be dealt with in the Communication.

(2001/C 350 E/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1505/01

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Quebec agreement and EU (cid:129) Mercosur relations

(11 May 2001)

Several days ago an agreement was signed in Quebec with a view to the creation of a free trade area
covering all of the countries of America.

Will the Commission say what the implications of this agreement will be for political and trade relations
between the European Union and Mercosur?

C 350 E/172

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 June 2001)

The Quebec Summit did not lead to speeding up the integration process of the Americas, as had been
expected beforehand. Rather it limited itself to confirming the scenario established at the Santiago de Chile
Summit (free trade by 1 January 2006). At the Summit the challenges of this process became clear
obtaining fast track authority; the opening of the American agricultural market; harmonisation of the
differing interests of 34 countries; environmental and labour questions, etc.

The Community is the main investor, main commercial partner and the most important donor for the
Southern common market (Mercosur) countries. The negotiations between the Community and Mercosur
go far beyond mere trade issues. Negotiations are proceeding at their own speed without any interference
from the American integration process.

(2001/C 350 E/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1507/01

by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission

(15 May 2001)

Subject: Extension of the financing for certain nut and/or locust bean quality and marketing improvement

plans approved in 1990

On 19 March 2001 the Council of EU Agriculture Ministers adopted Regulation (EC) No 558/2001 (1),
pursuant to which the financing for all nut and/or locust bean quality and marketing improvement plans
which by the year 2000 had been in operation for 10 years may be extended for a maximum period of
one year.

that regulation states that

Article 1 of
the extension applies solely to producer organisations with
improvement plans approved in 1990, whilst it is specified in Article 2 that aid is restricted to areas for
which an aid application has been submitted in respect of the tenth year of the plan.

The producer organisations with improvement plans approved in 1990 include four Spanish ones. Two of
these (Abertal and Producciones de Frutos Secos Asociados) are based in Catalonia and they have merged
with two other producer organisations whose improvement plans were approved after 1990 (Abertal with
Arboreto, whose improvement plan was approved on 9 February 1996, and Producciones de Frutos Secos
Asociados with Profusal, whose plan was approved on 3 May 1996).

According to the way in which the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food interprets the above
regulation, those two producer organisations (Arboreto and Profusal) may not submit an application for an
extension of financing in respect of the areas included in their improvement plan which have been under
the scheme for 10 years, in view of the fact that the original organisations (Abertal and Producciones de
Frutos Secos Asociados) have ceased to exist, for which reason the provisions of Article 1 of Regulation
(EC) No 558/2001 are not applicable since the new organisations with which they merged date from after
1990.

In the light of the above facts, would the Commission say whether or not the producer organisations
which submitted an improvement plan in 1990 and which subsequently merged with another, more
recent producer organisation (which has already submitted an application for aid in respect of areas which
have been under the scheme for 10 years) may submit an application for an extension of their funding
(submitted, that is, by the new producer organisation) for those areas and in respect of operations carried
out in those areas prior to 15 June 2001?

(1) OJ L 84, 23.3.2001, p. 1.