WRITTEN QUESTION P-2146/01 by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Commission. Evaluation of the URBAN programme in el Albayzin.
Date: 2001-07-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, EU aid, EU programme, co-financing, project evaluation, town planning, use of aid

18.4.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 93 E/69

(2002/C 93 E/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2146/01

by María Izquierdo Rojo (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Evaluation of the URBAN programme in ‘el Albayzin’

(10 July 2001)

In connection with the historic city centre ‘El Albayzin’ and the cofinancing for the programming for the
period 1997-1999 via the pilot programme URBAN, which expired on 30 June 2001, can the
Commission specify the subject, name and quantity of projects benefiting from this funding? Does it
know that some of these projects have not been carried out? For example, the Santa Isabel la Real museum
has not yet opened although expensive Community publicity posters announced that it was about to open
years ago and the supposedly underground carpark is a monstrosity rising up above ground level.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 September 2001)

The table below lists the projects which have been part-financed under the urban pilot project ‘Revitalising
the historic centre of El Albaicín’ and the portion of the budget committed and paid on 31 December
2000.

Projects Actions

Approved budget
After major revision

Commitments
1/7/1997 to
31/12/2000

Payments
1/7/1997 to
31/12/2000

(Euro)

1.

Integral revitalisation of Plaza Sta Isabel la Real

(a) Craft Centre
(b) Archaeological Display Sta Isabel

(c) Underground car Parking

2.

Renovation of the Arabian walls …

Protection of the Wall Area

(a)
(b) Restoration of the Walls

3. University campus El Albaicín

392 197,00
115 179,00

392 192,00
107 233,70

1 059 456,00

1 028 701,70

108 326,34
107 233,70

150 046,05

346 727,00
590 471,00

155 451,24
587 180,09

103 174,81
192 265,33

(a)

European Restoration Faculty

1 153 681,00

1 149 049,67

77 615,35

(b) Craft School

600 015,00

548 443,88

313 482,95

4.

Cultural quarter of El Albaicín
(a) Museum of El Albaicín

160 015,00

160 284,91

160 284,91

(b) Centre for cultural activities La Daralhorra

23 343,00

17 429,35

(c) Archaeological Display

186 013,00

137 230,10

0,00

5 709,61

5. Office for Project Implementation

619 268,00

561 081,10

441 990,92

6.

7.

8.

Program of Supplementary Economic Incentives

368 990,00

309 171,38

44 791,57

Tourist promotion of El Albaicin

156 159,00

101 035,66

10 775,25

Information exchange programme

279 626,00

259 683,38

196 419,75

Total

6 051 140

5 514 168,19

1 912 116,55

In the case of the El Albaicín museum, which is being installed in the monastery of Santa Isabel la Real,
the urban pilot project allocated a budget for the conversion of the building, as shown in the above table,
which was fully spent in 1998. The monastery was opened for a visit at the end of the seminar ‘Piloting
historic urban assets: viable alternatives’, held in Grenada in November 1998. The other works which
began in January 1999 under the supervision of the Consejería de Cultura of the Andalusian government,

C 93 E/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

such as the renovation of the roof, were not part of the pilot project. The Commission would ask the
Honourable Member to contact the Spanish authorities for the precise schedule of these works, on the
completions of which depends the reopening of the museum.

The steepness of the area (5 metres) prevented the carpark from being fully underground. According to
information from the Spanish authorities, construction of the carpark received all the permits required. In
addition, at the request of the Concejalía de Planificación Urbanística y Obras Municipales of the Grenada
town council, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) issued a report
through the Spanish National Committee of the International Council for Monuments and Sites (Icomos)
whose recommendations were, according to the Spanish authorities, included in the plans for the carpark.

(2002/C 93 E/087)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2147/01

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(10 July 2001)

Subject: Equality of treatment for pensioners in the EU

A visit from the London Irish Elders Forum lobby group has re-emphasised the need for a certain
harmonisation of pensioners’ travel concessions in the EU. A review by the Irish Department of Social
Community and Family Affairs in April 2000 rejected the request of Irish emigrant pensioners living in the
U.K. for entitlement to free travel. This case once again highlights the need for a senior citizens’ Europass.
As far back as May 1989 the Commission asked Member States to introduce such a Card by ’1 January
1991 at the latest’. Further support has been given to this cause by studies carried out for the Commission
by the Dane Age Association in 1993 and Age Concern England in 1997.

All EU Member States offer some form of concessionary scheme to older people, but the conditions
entitling people to transport and cultural concessions vary greatly from one state to another.

Student concessions are guaranteed throughout
Commission continue to recognise that pensioners G who like students
disadvantaged part of our community G have the right
concessionary travel throughout Europe?

I.D. Card. Does the
form an economically
to a Europass which would guarantee

the EU thanks to the student

What advances is the Commission making on harmonising the extremely diverse systems of concessions
for pensioners in Member States?

One of the major difficulties identified by the Commission in 1998 was the problem of division of
competences within Member States. In the German case, for example, these competences fall between
Länder, municipalities and the federal government. What has the Commission done since 1998 to address
this problem?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 2001)

As the Honourable Member states, arrangements for concessionary travel not only vary considerably
between the Member States but also fall within their area of competence. The legal provisions in place
must nevertheless observe the principle of non-discrimination as laid down in Article 12 (ex Article 6) of
the EC Treaty.

The Commission has no plans for harmonisation measures in this area.