WRITTEN QUESTION E-2950/01 by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission. The promotion of regional assemblies in the UK.
Date: 2001-10-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Structural Funds, United Kingdom, management, regional development, regional government

C 93 E/214

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2002

Comparisons across countries should be made with caution for the reasons mentioned above. First
3.
SHA prototype data for selected Member States indicate that the data may change substantially, when
harmonised definitions are applied.

(2002/C 93 E/257)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2950/01

by Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: The promotion of regional assemblies in the UK

(25 October 2001)

Has the Commission provided any funds to support campaigns for new elected regional assemblies in the
UK?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

As far as the programmes supported by the European Union under the Structural Funds are concerned, the
financing of campaigns of the type referred to by the Honourable Member is not an eligible expenditure.
The management of programmes supported by the Structural Funds is a responsibility decentralised to the
designated authorities in the Member States and regions. These authorities are responsible for the selection
of projects. They also carry the primary responsibility for the financial management and control of
European programmes.

(2002/C 93 E/258)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3005/01

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 October 2001)

Subject: Motorway concessions

What view does the Commission takes of the decision by the Italian government on the arrangements, that
have existed for decades, for granting concessions to motorway companies, which are now enjoying
extensions of several years without there having been any tender procedure? Is this how market rules are
applied? Is this how competition is protected? Is this how users subjected to unjustified frauds are
protected? Why does the European Union not intervene vigorously?

Reply given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2001)

that

The Commission would like to point out
the provisions of Community directives on public
procurement do not apply to the granting of concessions for services such as those cited by the
honourable member. Nevertheless, public administrations in such circumstances must adhere to the
principles and rules of the EC Treaty, and in particular, to the general principles of non-discrimination,
equal treatment, proportionality and transparency, as well as to the provisions governing the right to
provide services and the right of establishment. These rules and principles were set out in detail by the
Commission in its interpretative Communication on concessions under Community law, published in the
Official Journal (1).

As far as the motorway sector in particular is concerned, the Commission considers that in line with the
above-mentioned principles, the extension of a concession can be justified only by the need to compensate
the concession holder for damages or losses suffered as a result of unilateral decisions taken by the state to
deal with emergencies or situations due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the concession
holder. These include, in particular, measures to freeze charges which are taken for social reasons or to
combat inflation, or decisions making it obligatory to perform work to adapt the motorway to new
requirements for safety, urban planning, or environmental protection which did not apply at the time the
concession was granted.