WRITTEN QUESTION E-2202/01 by María Ayuso González (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Community Rural Development Initiative - Leader+.
Date: 2001-07-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Castile-La Mancha, EU initiative, local government, regional government, rural development

14.2.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 40 E/217

(2002/C 40 E/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2202/01

by Mar(cid:237)a Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Community Rural Development Initiative (cid:129) Leader+

(23 July 2001)

In the region of Castilla-La Mancha there is a (cid:145)local action group(cid:146) called the (cid:145)Asociaci(cid:243)n Concejo de la
Mancomunidad de Cabaæeros(cid:146), consisting of 11 municipalities forming a clearly defined natural territorial
unit. It was created on the basis of the natural links uniting the municipalities in this district and meets the
requirements concerning the level of representation laid down in Leader+. Furthermore, this local action
group was responsible for administering Leader II and its aims include (cid:145)the integration of women in the
structures underpinning our society(cid:146).

The Commission notice to the Member States of 14 April 2000 (1) states, inter alia, that (cid:145)in all cases
artificial divisions of areas which could undermine the coherence requirement referred to above will be
rejected(cid:146).

In view of the above:

1. Can the Regional Government stop the village of Navalucillos from forming part of this local action
group, on the basis of the argument that it belongs to a different province from the rest of the
municipalities, despite the fact that it forms part of the natural territorial unit in which the local action
group is situated and of the surroundings of the Cabaæeros National Park (to which most of the
villages in the present local action group also belong)?

2.

Is it desirable for a regional government to set up a new (cid:145)local action group(cid:146) uniting three clearly
different districts and a number of villages belonging historically to other districts?

(1) OJ C 139, 18.5.2000, p. 5.

(2002/C 40 E/235)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2203/01

by Mar(cid:237)a Ayuso GonzÆlez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Community Rural Development Initiative (cid:129) Leader+

(23 July 2001)

In the region of Castilla-La Mancha there is a (cid:145)local action group(cid:146) called the (cid:145)Asociaci(cid:243)n Concejo de la
Mancomunidad de Cabaæeros(cid:146), consisting of 11 municipalities forming a clearly defined natural territorial
unit. It was created on the basis of the natural links uniting the municipalities in this district and meets the
requirements concerning the level of representation laid down in Leader+. Furthermore, this local action
group was responsible for administering Leader II and its aims include (cid:145)the integration of women in the
structures underpinning our society(cid:146).

The Commission notice to the Member States of 14 April 2000 (1) states, inter alia, that (cid:145)the Leader+
initiative is intended for small rural territories which form a homogeneous unit in physical (geographical),
economic and social terms(cid:146).

Bearing this in mind, does the Commission consider that it is consistent and compatible with Community
legislation for municipalities such as Poblete, Corral de Calatrava or Caracuel de Calatrava, which are at a
distance from the natural territorial unit of Cabaæeros and belong to another geographical district which is
geographically, socially and economically distinct, to form part of the local action group (cid:145)Asociaci(cid:243)n
Concejo de la Mancomunidad de Cabaæeros(cid:146) at the behest of the Regional Government?

(1) OJ C 139, 18.5.2000, p. 5.