WRITTEN QUESTION P-1768/01 by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Cooperation with Latin America over drugs.
Date: 2001-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, Latin America, drug addiction, exchange of information, powers of the institutions (EU), technical cooperation

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/223

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 2001)

In 1998 and 1999 the Commission investigated the conditions in which Ryanair operates scheduled air
services at Charleroi airport. In the course of its investigation it looked at the contracts concluded between
Ryanair and BSCA, the company which manages Charleroi airport.

The examination failed to reveal any infringement of Community competition rules. It is true that Ryanair
enjoyed favourable operating conditions at Charleroi airport in respect of groundhandling services, but it
was also, by a long way, the main company operating at the airport. The discounts it received appeared to
be standard commercial practice.

Nonetheless, the Commission can inform the Honourable Member that in the light of recent press articles
it intends to check whether the information it obtained earlier is still valid.

(2001/C 350 E/251)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1768/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Cooperation with Latin America over drugs

(12 June 2001)

After six years of existence, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA),
which has undergone a far-reaching review of its objectives and working methods, has become a fully-
integrated information system on drugs and drugs policies in the Member States.

This monitoring centre is now called on to provide services not only for the EU applicant states but also
for other third countries, in view of its remarkable potential for exporting expertise and experience in the
field. It is certainly now in a position to satisfy the requirements of the applicant states, since its internal
rules have been amended with that in mind and the necessary human resources under the PHARE
programme have been placed at its disposal. This is not the case, however, for other third countries,
notably those in Latin America, which also need as much information as possible on drugs as a priority for
their co-operation with the EU. The EMCDDA has neither the legal capacity nor the resources to meet this
demand for direct co-operation with Latin America.

Given the above:

(cid:129) What action does the Commission intend to take to ensure that such co-operation with third
countries can include not only contract relations with external bodies but also the EMCDDA(cid:146)s own
accumulated expertise?

(cid:129) Does the Commission intend to make such measures possible with the support of the EMCDDA itself?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(10 July 2001)

The Commission welcomes the Honourable Member(cid:146)s interest
in issues relating to the European
Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), particularly as regards international co-
operation.

C 350 E/224

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

The purpose of the EMCDDA is to keep the Community and its Member States informed about drugs and
drug addiction and their impact within Europe. The Regulation establishing the Monitoring Centre
(Regulation (EEC) No 302/93 of 8 February 1993) (1) makes explicit provision for co-operation with
international organisations and other governmental or non-governmental bodies. In this context, the
Centre was represented by its Director at the high-level meeting on coordination and co-operation on
drug-related matters between the Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, held 2001 in Cochabamba
(Bolivia) on 11 and 12 June.

The amendment to the Centre(cid:146)s Regulation, which enables it to provide technical assistance to the
applicant countries as regards information on drugs, should be seen in the context of the strategy for
Union enlargement, its purpose being to enable the applicant countries to participate in the Centre(cid:146)s work
as members in the long term. Finally, it should be borne in mind that the assistance given to the applicant
countries in participating in the work of the EMCDDA is part of the PHARE drugs programme and is
twofold. The idea is to exploit both the Centre(cid:146)s expertise and that of the Member States through twinning
programmes.

Relations between the Centre and non-applicant third countries do not pursue the same aims, which is
why the amendment to the Regulation covers applicant countries only. In short, the Commission does not
plan to make any radical changes as regards the purpose for which the Centre was set up.

As regards co-operation with Latin America, and particularly the support given in setting up the Venezuela
Monitoring Centre, it should be stressed that the Centre(cid:146)s main objective will be to collect information on
drugs and drug addiction, a task which falls to the Member States and not to the EMCDDA within the
Union. There are plans to mobilise the expertise currently being deployed within the Union for this task:
certain Member States have already indicated that they are prepared to mobilise such expertise.

(1) OJ L 36, 12.2.1993.

(2001/C 350 E/252)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1771/01

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(15 June 2001)

Subject: State aid to windmills

Will the Commission say to what extent there are aspects of Danish legislation on state aid to power
stations which are contrary to EU competition rules, with particular reference to whether, under EU rules,
aid to windmills can be passed on to electricity consumers?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2001)

The Danish legislation under which State aid is granted to windpower plants and biomass plants
established before 2000 was approved by the Commission last year (1). The legislation under which State
aid is granted to windpower plants and biomass plants established later was approved on 20 June 2001.

(1) OJ C 354, 9.12.2000.