WRITTEN QUESTION P-1691/01 by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Implementation of the Poseima programme in Madeira and the new legal basis for the outermost regions.
Date: 2001-06-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU law, EU programme, Madeira, peripheral region

C 81 E/52

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.4.2002

(2002/C 81 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1691/01

by SØrgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 June 2001)

Subject: Implementation of the Poseima programme in Madeira and the new legal basis for the outermost

regions

The programme of options specific to the remote and insular nature of Madeira and the Azores (Poseima),
which was set up in 1991, provides for the differentiation of Community policies (particularly in the field
of taxation) and the adoption of measures in the agriculture, livestock, fisheries, craft, environment and
transport sectors, specific measures designed to reduce the extra cost of supplying agricultural and
petroleum products, and customs measures for free zones.

The implementation of the Poseima programme has had a beneficial effect on the social and economic
development of Madeira, despite the fact that some of the planned sectoral measures (those relating to the
environment, craft industries and energy) have been applied only for a short period and others are at
present unsuited to the actual situation on the island, as is the case in the agriculture sector. The truth of
the matter is that the implementation of Poseima has essentially been restricted to the agriculture and
fisheries sectors, to customs measures for the benefit of the Madeira free zone and to certain VAT-related
tax reductions (the provisions of the Act of Accession have remained in force) and special taxes on
consumption.

Following the inclusion in the Treaty of the new legal basis for the outermost regions, it was expected that
the Commission (cid:129) taking into account the experience of implementing Poseima (cid:129) would submit a
comprehensive multi-sectoral action programme which, in the current context of European integration,
would meet the development needs of Madeira and the other outermost regions which have been brought
to the Commission(cid:146)s attention by means of the memoranda submitted by those regions and their respective
Member States. So far this has not happened and the Commission has merely submitted a number of
proposals for structural amendments to certain regulations (agriculture: adjustment of the intervention
ceilings established in the regulation on EAGGF aid;
fisheries: adjustment of certain FIFG financial
intervention rates; Structural Funds: increase in the maximum participation rate ceilings) and revision of
the agriculture part of the Poseima programme (and of the other Posei programmes), with preference to be
given once again under Poseima to the agriculture sector.

Furthermore, the Commission has not used the new legal basis laid down in the Treaty for the outermost
regions in any of its recently submitted proposals, which comes as a surprise and runs counter to
expectations.

The Commission:

(cid:129) when does it intend to draw up and implement its previously announced comprehensive multi-
sectoral action programme (including the relevant financial commitments and an identification of
priority areas for intervention) which will fully meet development needs of the outermost regions? For
example, does the Commission intend to reprogramme measures such as those originally included in
the Poseima programme in the environment, craft, tourism, energy and transport fields?

(cid:129) what criterion does it intend to adopt for using the new legal basis for the outermost regions which

has been laid down in the Treaty, i.e. Article 299(2) thereof?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2001)

The Commission did not, at least at this stage, think it worthwhile proposing a single programme to
replace the programme of options specific to the remote and insular nature of Madeira and the Azores
(Poseima), the programme of options specific to the remote and insular nature of the overseas departments
(Poseidom) and the programme of options specific to the remote and insular nature of the Canary Islands
(Poseican). It has received no requests to this effect from the Member States and regions concerned.
the Commission report of 14 March 2000 (1) outlined a strategy for the sustainable
Nonetheless,
development of the outermost regions. This strategy not only proposes that existing measures should be
continued, adapted and improved but also paves the way for new initiatives.

4.4.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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The Poseima programme schemes mentioned by the Honourable Member (for the environment, craft
industries and energy) could not be continued because they were neither eligible for structural funding nor
covered by a specific budget line. However, Structural Fund operational programmes for 2000-2006 make
provision for funding investment in energy and the environment. More generally,
investment in the
environment and transport
is also eligible for funding under the Cohesion Fund for the countries
concerned. At the same time the Commission is still deliberating on the concerns raised by the Honourable
Member.

Finally, the Commission now regards Article 299(2) (ex-Article 227(2)) of the EC Treaty as an important
political lever to bring in Community measures to assist the outermost regions. As regards the legal basis
in the strict sense for the measures in favour of those regions, the Council opted unanimously for a double
legal basis for the measures it adopted in June 2001. The Commission, however, stands by its view that
Article 299(2) should be used as the legal basis only for exceptions to the provisions of the Treaty, without
prejudice to the use of the specific legal bases for the common policies.

(1) COM(2000) 147.

(2002/C 81 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1727/01

by John Bowis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: Rare diseases

What is the position of rare diseases in the Public Health framework? How will the Commission ensure
action on such diseases and what further calls will there be for proposals in this area?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The programme of Community action for 1999-2003 on rare diseases represents an important step in the
consolidation of the Community policy for this area of public health. This programme was adopted by
Decision of the European Parliament and the Council on 29 April 1999 (1) and is one of the eight
programmes of Community action in public health.

During the forthcoming months a common call for proposals for 2002 for the eight existing programmes
will be published, including a call for proposals on rare diseases. In implementing these programmes, the
Commission will ensure that actions undertaken are complementary and consistent with the scope and the
objectives of the Community(cid:146)s Health strategy and the proposed new Public Health programme (2), which
was proposed last year with a view to achieving a better focused approach and synergy between various
actions. This programme will replace all the eight existing public health programmes.

The new programme has three main strands of actions:

(cid:129) Improving health information;

(cid:129) Responding rapidly to health threats;

(cid:129) Addressing health determinants.

Once the new Public Health programme will be adopted, the current eight programmes will be repealed.
Work on rare diseases will be continued under the new programme.