WRITTEN QUESTION E-2102/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Subsidies for European oil, gas and coal producers.
Date: 2001-07-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, coal industry, energy technology, gas industry, oil industry

C 40 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.2.2002

Disease-related research will be supported strongly in the Specific Programme (cid:145)Integrating and Strengthen-
ing the European Research Area(cid:146) within all areas of the priority theme 1.1.1 (cid:145)Genomics and Biotechnology
for Health(cid:146).

In particular, the following will be addressed under the research priorities listed below:

(i)

(ii)

(cid:145)Fundamental knowledge and basic tools for functional genomics(cid:146), tools and approaches will be
developed, which will lead to a better understanding of and improved treatments for human disease.

(cid:145)Applications of genomics and biotechnology for health(cid:146), genomics and advances in biotechnology will
the development of new diagnostic,
be exploited by supporting technological platforms
preventative and therapeutic tools, which will have implications for a wide range of diseases.

for

(iii) (cid:145)Applications in medicine and public health(cid:146), there will be a concentration of efforts on cancer,
infectious

cardiovascular disease, rare diseases and diseases of the nervous system. Furthermore,
diseases will be tackled by focusing on combating resistance to drugs.

(iv)

(cid:145)Confronting the major communicable diseases linked to poverty(cid:146), the three major communicable
diseases, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), malaria
and tuberculosis will be addressed in the context of poverty reduction in developing countries.

Disease-related research is also expected to be covered indirectly in the programme component
(cid:145)Anticipating the Community(cid:146)s scientific and technological needs(cid:146) through actions aimed at supporting
the Community public health strategy.

Disease-related research is also likely to benefit
ordination of national research activities under the next Framework Programme.

from the funding proposed for supporting the co-

(2002/C 40 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2095/01

by Pat Gallagher (UEN) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: EAGGF funds for Connaught, Ulster

Will the Commission provide a full list of EAGGF funding for Connaught, Ulster during the period June
1994 to date?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2001)

The Commission cannot provide a full
list of the European agriculture guidance and guarantee fund
(EAGGF) funding for Connaught, Ulster, during the period from June 1994 to date, due to the fact that the
information on EAGGF funding is available per Member State. The Irish authorities can, certainly, provide
more detailed information.

(2002/C 40 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2102/01

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Subsidies for European oil, gas and coal producers

Between 1975 and 1998, the Commission gave € 747,72 million in subsidies to European oil, gas and coal
producers.

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/185

How much was granted in subsidies in:

(a) 1999,

(b) 2000 and

(c) 2001?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(25 September 2001)

The amount of support allocated within the Energie Programme to innovative oil and gas technology was
as follows:

(cid:129) 1999: € 11 million

(cid:129) 2000: € 36 million

As far as coal is concerned funding was allocated through the Energie Programme but also through the
European Steel and Coal Community Programme (ECSC) as follows:

1999

28

24

(€ million)

2000

25

14

ECSC

Energie

N.B. Data for 2001 is not yet available.

It should be noted that such amounts are not subsidies but financial support for the promotion of
innovative energy technology. In particular for the ECSC the financing originates from a fund created by a
levy on the coal and steel industry.

(2002/C 40 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2104/01

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) and
Arlindo Cunha (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 July 2001)

Subject: Fishery structural measures and tax on collective earnings in Portugal

Under the successive Community support frameworks, Portuguese vessel owners, like their counterparts in
the other Member States, have received aids for the scrapping, immobilisation, refitting, modernisation and
construction of fishing vessels, the aim being to modernise the fishing fleets.

As is well known, under these joint funding arrangements the Member State concerned has to contribute
too. However, in the wake of a statement by the Association of Industrial Fishery Vessel Owners, the
Portuguese tax authorities have concluded that this financial aid should be liable to the tax on collective
earnings or IRC. This means that in reality the Portuguese state not only does not contribute: it actually
benefits financially in net terms from the total funding of the project.

Can the Commission state its position on this practice of the Portuguese tax authorities as regards the
Community support funds for the restructuring of fishing fleets?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2001)

In their question the Honourable Members say that the Portuguese tax authorities levy corporation tax
(IRC) on financial aid granted under the Community support framework for the restructuring of the fishing
fleet. The fifth subparagraph of Article 32(1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999