WRITTEN QUESTION P-2886/01 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. North-South cooperation schemes in the campaign against drug abuse.
Date: 2001-10-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: North-South relations, cooperation policy, drug addiction, implementation of the budget, project evaluation

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/61

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(28 November 2001)

Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1),
the selection of individual projects is a matter for the programme Monitoring Committee, which includes
representatives of the national and regional authorities.

The project mentioned by the Honourable Member does not seem to correspond to the type of
infrastructure which could be taken into account for part-financing under the Interreg III Community
Initiative. It does not appear on the indicative list of priorities and measures eligible under that Initiative (2)
and it has no clearly cross-border features.

In the Commission’s view, this type of project could be considered for part-financing under the Objective
1 operational programme for Andalusia, which has € 7 840,4 million of Structural Funds assistance for the
2000-2006 programming period, of which € 6 152,7 million is from the European Regional Development
Fund.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) Annex II to the Commission Communication to the Member States of 28 April 2000 laying down guidelines for a
Community Initiative concerning trans-European cooperation intended to encourage harmonious and balanced
development of the European territory : Interreg III, OJ C 143, 23.5.2000.

(2002/C 147 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2886/01

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(10 October 2001)

Subject: North-South cooperation schemes in the campaign against drug abuse

Article 12 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2046/97 (1) of 13 October 1997 on north-south cooperation in
the campaign against drugs and drug addiction stipulates that, three years after the Regulation enters into
force, ‘the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council an overall assessment of
operations financed by the Community under this Regulation together with suggestions regarding the
future of this Regulation and, where necessary, proposals for amending or terminating it’. Although the
time limit laid down in the Regulation expired on 24 October 2000, the Commission has still not notified
the Budgetary Authority of the assessment and suggestions in question. Budget heading B7-6310 ‘North-
South cooperation schemes in the campaign against drug abuse’ in the European Communities’ 2002 PDB
therefore does not have a legal basis.

Has the Commission implemented commitment appropriations and payment appropriations under the
aforementioned budget heading since 24 October 2000?

Is it aware that, in the absence of a legal basis, budget heading B7-6310 ‘North-South cooperation schemes
in the campaign against drug abuse’ cannot be implemented?

When will
Budgetary Authority?

it submit the assessment specified in Article 12 of the above-mentioned regulation to the

(1) OJ L 287, 21.10.1997, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(20 December 2001)

The evaluation procedure referred to by the Honourable Member was launched by the Commission in
1999 and the evaluation actually started in January 2000. Its implementation suffered a major delay
through no fault of the Commission but owing to difficulties encountered by the evaluator selected, some
of which resulted from force majeure. The final report on the third stage (summary, conclusions and
recommendations) of the evaluation should be presented to the Commission by the end of this year. The
reports for the first and second stages have already been completed.

C 147 E/62

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

The budget heading still has a legal basis and commitments and payments were made after 24 October
2000. The appropriations committed for 2000 amount to EUR 5 360 000. The appropriations paid for
2000 amount to EUR 536 767. For 2001 the appropriations paid amount to EUR 2 916 772,80.

(2002/C 147 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2914/01

by Brian Simpson (PSE) to the Commission

(17 October 2001)

Subject: Increase in airline insurance premiums following the terrorist attacks

Is the Commission aware that, following the recent terrorist attacks, insurance companies have significantly
increased the premiums payable by airlines and that there is a suspicion that they have acted in a way that
contravenes EU competition laws?

Can the Commission indicate whether or not it is investigating the actions of insurance companies in this
regard and the action which it is prepared to take?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(14 November 2001)

The Commission is aware of the developments the Honourable Member refers to.

The Commission has launched own-initiative proceedings to verify the compatibility with the competition
rules of the conditions under which the increases in premiums were decided.

In due time, the Commission will decide whether further action is appropriate.

(2002/C 147 E/063)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2925/01

by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Commission

(24 October 2001)

Subject: Border checks and terrorism

Will the Commission allow countries to re-introduce border checks if they see the need to do so in order
to catch terrorists?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

Article 2(2) of the Convention Implementing the Schengen Agreement provides that where public policy or
national security so require, border checks on persons may be carried out at internal borders.

Given the present state of the law, it is not for the Commission to authorise or prohibit the reintroduction
of checks at internal borders.