WRITTEN QUESTION P-1854/01 by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission. PHARE funding for the European Middle School in Vienna.
Date: 2001-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Austria, EU financing, EU programme, European school, eligibility criteria, secondary education

C 93 E/30

Official Journal of the European Communities

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18.4.2002

(2002/C 93 E/032)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1849/01

by Linda McAvan (PSE) to the Commission

(26 June 2001)

Subject: Welfare of chickens kept for meat production

Can the Commission confirm whether or not the practice of ‘skip a day’ feeding, i.e. the poultry industry’s
term for when a limited ration of feed is given only every other day, is in compliance with Council
Directive 98/58/EC (1) on the protection of animals kept for farming purposes?

The Commission stated last year in an answer to parliamentary question E-1848/00 (2) that, following the
conclusion of the report from the SCAHAW and in the light of the above Directive, it was working on a
proposal to establish the welfare requirements for keeping broiler chickens in the Community. What
progress has been made on this proposal?

(1) OJ L 221, 8.8.1998, p. 23.
(2) OJ C 89 E, 20.3.2001, p. 89.

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2001)

Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming
purposes addresses the welfare requirements to be applied for the protection of animals kept for different
types of production, including the keeping of chickens for meat production.

The scientific committee on animal health and animal welfare (SCAHAW) adopted on 21 March 2000 an
opinion on the welfare of chickens kept for meat production. The scientific committee points out that
severe feed restrictions result in unacceptable welfare problems. It also indicates that allowing breeding
birds to reach a high body weight through free access to feed leads to other serious welfare problems.

Following the conclusions of the opinion from the SCAHAW and in the light of the above-mentioned
Directive, the Commission will address this situation by taking appropriate measures once work on a range
of other priorities on animal welfare,
including animal transport and the welfare of pigs, has been
completed.

(2002/C 93 E/033)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1854/01

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(21 June 2001)

Subject: PHARE funding for the European Middle School in Vienna

The Cernet project was launched in 1996 by a group of Czech, Slovak, Hungarian and Austrian education
experts to establish cross-border cooperation in education. This cooperation gave rise to a very successful
cross-border educational network, the core of which is the European Middle School which teaches 10-14
year-old pupils from the Cernet regions together with Viennese pupils.

The project has so far been funded from PHARE CBC and through national contributions from the
countries involved. To secure further funding for the project, the FAIME financing plan was developed,
though this was rejected in a letter from the Commission (Mr Verheugen’s office). This rejection has left
the future of the project in jeopardy, which in turn casts doubt on whether the pupils taking part will be
able to finish their education. The letter states that the project is not eligible for support because its
headquarters are in Vienna and because pupils from the applicant countries are involved.

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Why was it possible in the past to receive support from PHARE funds, although the headquarters of the
Cernet project have always been in Vienna? Why is it no longer possible?

Since the funding is in jeopardy, it is highly probable that the pupils involved in the project will not be
able to sit their final examinations. Can the EU or the Commission make other programmes or funding
available to enable those pupils to complete their education at the school?

The European Middle School in Vienna is a highly successful project. The school has taken first place twice
in the NEWS rankings and this year lies second. Is the Commission aware of any similarly successful cross-
border educational network supported by PHARE funding?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The letter on behalf of the Commissioner responsible for Enlargement to which the Honourable Member
refers gives the ineligibility of Vienna as only one of the reasons why PHARE cross-border co-operation
(CBC) funds cannot support the FAIME project. In addition, the letter does not reject PHARE financing
outright, but indicates that support cannot be provided up-front,
i.e. directly upon submission of the
project proposal.

While it is true that the Cernet project referred to in the question has benefited from PHARE CBC funding
in the past, the rules under which the Commission may provide this support have changed. Within the
the original Regulation (1) underlying financial
framework of accelerated preparations for accession,
support provided under the PHARE CBC programme was updated in December 1998 (2). One of the
changes brought about by this new Regulation is a stricter application of the geographical eligibility
criteria. Other changes concern the programming mechanism and the eligibility of projects. Whilst
recognising the success of the project of European Middle School in Vienna, the latter in particular prevent
the Commission from agreeing to finance the FAIME project as it has been presented.

Under the terms of the existing CBC Regulation, activities such as the FAIME project can only be
supported by PHARE under the terms of Article 5.2, i.e. within the framework of a Joint Small Projects
Fund (JSPF). Such activities are restricted to proposals submitted by the local authorities in the border
region concerned, further to a call for proposals launched by the partner countries. In addition, the budget
for such activities should not exceed € 50,000.

The FAIME project presented to the Commission earlier this year had not been submitted for financing
under the JSPF, and had a budget far in excess of the € 50,000 limit. Therefore, if the FAIME project is to
be eligible for PHARE CBC support, it would have to be submitted for consideration under the JSPF and its
budget would have to be considerably reduced. It should be noted, however, that even if it is re-submitted,
it would have to compete with other potential projects and its financing cannot therefore be guaranteed
up-front.

It has to be further noted that the Phare CBC programme does not finance any other such cross-border
educational network like FAIME in Central Europe.

With respect to the possibilities for funding under other Community programmes, the office of the
Commissioner responsible for Enlargement, in the above letter, suggested funding possibilities under the
Socrates programme be investigated. The Socrates programme aims to provide support to transnational co-
operation initiatives in the field of education, and is open to participation by the candidate countries.
Indeed, many candidate countries already take part in the Socrates programme, and benefit from a PHARE
contribution to meet the costs of their participation.

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Within Socrates, the action Comenius 1 provides financial support to schools participating in projects
organised within a trans-national school partnership. Comenius 1 is a decentralised action implemented by
National Agencies in all participating countries. Information on the programme is available on the Europa
server at http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/socrates/comenius/index.html, including contact information
for all participating countries and details on the conditions for participation.

(1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1628/94 of 4 July 1994 concerning the implementation of a programme for cross-
border cooperation between countries in central and eastern Europe and Member States of the Community in the
framework of the Phare programme, OJ L 171, 6.7.1994.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2760/98 of 18 December 1998, OJ L 345, 19.12.1998.

(2002/C 93 E/034)

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:

D how many agricultural holdings in Belgium have an area of more than 50 hectares;

D how many agricultural holdings in Belgium have an area of less than 50 hectares;

D if such a measure were introduced, what savings would be made D expressed in absolute figures and

as a percentage D in the budget devoted to arable crops?

(2002/C 93 E/035)

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:

D how many agricultural holdings in Denmark have an area of more than 50 hectares;

D how many agricultural holdings in Denmark have an area of less than 50 hectares;

D if such a measure were introduced, what savings would be made D expressed in absolute figures and

as a percentage D in the budget devoted to arable crops?