WRITTEN QUESTION E-1677/01 by Rosa Miguélez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission. Redefinition of the NUTS.
Date: 2001-06-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU regional policy, EU statistics, statistical method

C 364 E/176

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

However, on the negative impact that the use of daytime running lights would have for fuel consumption
and hence the emissions of carbondioxide (CO2), there has not yet been any specific study done by the
Commission. The Commission is aware of earlier work that has been done on their fuel consumption
disbenefit by certain Member States and the overall conclusion is that daytime running lights would have
the effect of increasing fuel consumption by between 1 % and 1,5 %. However, in view of the fact that in
the meanwhile fuel consumption is affected more and more by other equipment in cars such as air-
conditioners, the Commission is at the moment subsidising a study that intends to clarify this issue. The
results should be available in mid-2002.

(2001/C 364 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1674/01

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: ILO conference (cid:129) June 2001

Will the Commission use the ILO conference in June 2001 to draw attention to the repeated failures of
governments such as India, Nepal and Pakistan to take adequate measures to eradicate the use of bonded
labour?

Will the Commission make efforts to focus the ILO(cid:146)s discussions on practical assistance to governments in
order to ensure that a comprehensive assessment of the problem of bonded labour is made, that laws
prohibiting the use of bonded labour are put into place and that monitoring systems are established to
evaluate the impact of assistance offered to combat bonded labour?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission has studied the Global Report prepared by the International Labour Organisation (ILO)
for discussion at the 2001 International Labour Conference with great care and believes the Report is
a groundbreaking step for the international community in identifying areas where forced labour persists
and in suggesting ways of tackling the problem.

With regard to India, Nepal and Pakistan, the Commission notes that the Report provides both indications
as to the efforts that have already been undertaken by the countries concerned to eradicate bonded labour,
and evidence of the extent to which different forms of bonded labour remain a widespread phenomenon.
The Commission is hopeful that the clear identification of the problems through the follow-up to the ILO
Declaration, coupled with ILO technical assistance, will contribute to eradicating the phenomenon.

(2001/C 364 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1677/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(14 June 2001)

Subject: Redefinition of the NUTS

The Commission has submitted a proposal for the redefinition of the nomenclature of territorial units for
statistical purposes (NUTS) with a view to drawing up the map for the Structural Funds which will form
the basis for the decisions to be adopted for the forthcoming programming period.

The map drawn up on the basis of these (cid:145)units for statistical purposes(cid:146) must take account of both richer
and poorer regions within a single Member State.

To what extent and in what fashion is the Commission linking this redefinition to that applying to
cohesion policy?

20.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/177

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 July 2001)

The proposed Regulation does not seek to redefine the nomenclature of territorial units for statistical
purposes (NUTS) used in the implementation of cohesion policy but to make good the absence of a legal
basis for the current classification.

The Commission is not intending by means of this regulation to modify the existing maps of Community
regions defined by the current NUTS classification of the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
On the contrary, it is proposing to put in place clearer rules as a regulatory framework for future changes
to the classification.

(2001/C 364 E/196)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1678/01

by Rosa MiguØlez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Transport networks and regional planning

(14 June 2001)

There is a clear correlation between the remote status of certain regions in the EU and their level of
economic and social cohesion. There is also a visible concentration of Union resources in favour of the
more developed and accessible regions of Europe.

Are there plans for greater coordination and interrelation of transport networks and regional planning at
European level?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission takes the view that transport policy, and in particular that involving the development of
trans-European transport networks has an important influence on regional planning and can help narrow
the disparities between regions.

The second Report on Economic and Social Cohesion (1) states that major efforts were made during the
1990s to provide the regions where development is lagging behind and the Cohesion countries with levels
of infrastructure more similar to those in other regions and countries,
in particular as regards road
infrastructure. This progress was linked to EU structural expenditure with investments in transport
infrastructure being targeted at the less developed regions and the Cohesion countries.

A study undertaken recently by the Commission clearly shows that the (cid:145)transport(cid:146) component of the
Cohesion Fund is highly advantageous for the less prosperous regions: 20 % of the least well-off ones
receive 80 % of the funding and 40 % of the best-off ones receive under 1 %.

Emphasis should be placed also on the implementation of major projects such as the (cid:216)resund bridge and
tunnel which improves links between the centre of the European Union and the Scandinavian countries
where access is important for ensuring the regional cohesion of the Union even if those countries are not
lagging behind in economic terms.

It is not correct to say, therefore, that Union resources are being concentrated on transport in the more
developed and accessible regions of Europe.

As part of the preparations for a White Paper on the common transport policy and the review of the
guidelines on trans-European transport networks, the Commission, however, has been looking at ways of
strengthening the contribution the trans-European networks policy can make to the more balanced
development of the territory of the Union.