WRITTEN QUESTION P-1499/01 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission. Programme to strengthen the economic competitiveness of frontier regions.
Date: 2001-05-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU action, EU regional policy, accession to the European Union, competitiveness, economic consequence, frontier region, support policy

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?