WRITTEN QUESTION E-1634/01 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Execution of Commission initiatives over the period 1994-1999.
Date: 2001-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, EU initiative, Spain, implementation of the budget, management

C 318 E/246

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

maceutical company. This restriction may have significant public health implications if the research results
were unfavourable towards the pharmaceutical product. Given the public health and consumer welfare
issues that are involved in this issue, could the Commission please outline its views on this matter and
specifically point out how it aims to ensure that the pharmaceutical industry will not seek to restrict access
to antibiotic material necessary for research in this way?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2001)

The issue of antimicrobial resistance forms an inherent part of the Community(cid:146)s health strategy and
comprises actions in all the relevant sectors, public health, veterinary and phytosanitary. The Commission
is currently finalising a communication which will set out a Community strategy against antimicrobial
resistance from this multisectoral perspective.

With respect to the specific question on access to antibiotic powder for laboratory research, and having
contacted several companies who may be concerned, the Commission is not aware that the pharmaceutical
industry seeks to restrict access to antibiotic material for laboratory research purposes. It is however
standard practice to request undertakings from the researchers to ensure that the research is legitimate and
appropriate and to request sight of the results in advance of publication. Availability of specific antibiotics
and the particular undertakings requested are likely to be decided on a case-by-case basis, depending on
whether the antibiotic concerned is already available on the market, or whether it is still at an early stage
of development. The Commission considers that the manner in which the pharmaceutical industry supplies
antibiotic material for academic research is, in general, appropriate, but is not in a position to comment on
individual contractual arrangements between a specific company and a specific academic institution.

(2001/C 318 E/271)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1634/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(12 June 2001)

Subject: Execution of Commission initiatives over the period 1994-1999

The Community initiatives created in 1989 enable the Commission to play a more active role, on the
supposition that
the Member States. The
Commission has, in these Community initiatives, a leading role in dealing with specific problems affecting
the EU as a whole.

it has an overall vision allegedly lacking at

the level of

Over the programming period 1994-1999 13 initiatives were adopted, with a total budget of € 13 450
million. These initiatives were characterised by a (cid:145)value added(cid:146) element vis-(cid:224)-vis the other measures
financed by the Structural Funds, since they were aimed at encouraging transnational, crossborder and
interregional cooperation,
local economic and social agents, and aid to real
cooperation among all interested parties.

the participation of

In view of all the above, the Commission and the Member States may logically be expected to have made
efforts to execute, in their entirety, the resources allocated to each of the 13 initiatives for the period
1994-1999.

Can the Commission state the real execution level of the appropriations earmarked for this set of initiatives
over the period 1994-1999?

What was the real execution level for each of the initiatives (Interreg II, Leader II, REGIS II, NOW, Horizon,
Youthstart, Integra, ADAPT, Rechar II, Resider II, Konver, RETEX, SME, URBAN and PESCA)?

What is the Commission(cid:146)s assessment of the execution percentage? Why were the remaining funds
earmarked for each initiative not executed?

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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In particular, what was the total amount of funds under these initiatives executed for Spain? What amount
the total allocated for the
was executed in Spain under each initiative, and what percentage of
programming period does this represent? What
the execution
percentage? Why were the remaining funds earmarked for each initiative not executed?

is the Commission(cid:146)s assessment of

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2001)

The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its
findings as soon as possible.

(2001/C 318 E/272)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1870/01

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2001)

Subject: Premiums for arable crops (Belgium)

With regard to animal premiums, the European Commission is planning to introduce a ceiling for
subsidised animals per holding and per age category. Would it not be sensible to introduce a similar ceiling
for arable crops subsidies, for example 50 hectares, so that holdings would receive support only in respect
of that maximum area?

Can the Commission indicate:

(cid:129) how many agricultural holdings in Belgium have an area of more than 50 hectares;

(cid:129) how many agricultural holdings in Belgium have an area of less than 50 hectares;

(cid:129) if such a measure were introduced, what savings would be made (cid:129) expressed in absolute figures and

as a percentage (cid:129) in the budget devoted to arable crops?

(2001/C 318 E/273)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1871/01

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2001)

Subject: Premiums for arable crops (Denmark)

With regard to animal premiums, the European Commission is planning to introduce a ceiling for
subsidised animals per holding and per age category. Would it not be sensible to introduce a similar ceiling
for arable crops subsidies, for example 50 hectares, so that holdings would receive support only in respect
of that maximum area?

Can the Commission indicate:

(cid:129) how many agricultural holdings in Denmark have an area of more than 50 hectares;

(cid:129) how many agricultural holdings in Denmark have an area of less than 50 hectares;

(cid:129) if such a measure were introduced, what savings would be made (cid:129) expressed in absolute figures and

as a percentage (cid:129) in the budget devoted to arable crops?