WRITTEN QUESTION E-3193/01 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European contributions to associations and companies.
Date: 2001-11-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, association, company constituted under civil law, eligibility criteria, financial control, use of aid

C 160 E/70

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

The Commission is not aware of how the figure of four million tonnes imports, in any form of meat, is
arrived at. It is not part of official statistics and the Commission is not aware of other sources either. In
strictly respecting the international and Community rules on the subject of endangered species no
bushmeat can legally be imported into the Community. A total of approximately 40 000 tonnes of beef
from domestic species are exported each year to the Community under strict veterinary and customs
surveillance in the exporting African states as well as in the Community.

Some of the species endangered by the bushmeat crisis,
like gorillas, chimpanzees and elephants, are
included in Annex A to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of
species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein (1) on the implementation of the Convention on
international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES). The introduction into the
Community of specimens or parts of derivatives of these species is strictly controlled under this regulation.
Import for commercial trade of endangered species included in its Annex A is prohibited.

Under these circumstances the introduction of import quotas does not seem to offer a solution to the
problem of the bushmeat crisis, which should find its remedies by actions on the ground in the countries
where this activity is prevalent.

At present, the Commission finances several conservation projects in Africa in general and particularly in
the Central African region which address this issue to a certain extent.

For example:

4 The ‘Ecofac’ Programme (Ecosystèmes Forestières Afrique Centrale) has several components in and

around major protected areas to combat, control or prevent poaching.

4 The project ‘ABAC’

(Alternatives au Braconnage en Afrique Centrale) specifically aims to reduce
poaching by making meat more regularly available on a controlled basis. This should reduce pressure
on animals living in the wild.

4 The project ‘MIKE’ (Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants) provides information on levels and trends
in the illegal killing of elephants and assesses their causes in order to inform CITES decisions and the
management of habitats containing these and other threatened species in Africa. This should
ultimately provide the basis for enabling sustainable management of elephants and elephant products
in Africa, and thus also be helpful in combating poaching.

(1) OJ L 61, 3.3.1997.

(2002/C 160 E/079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3193/01

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 November 2001)

Subject: European contributions to associations and companies

An examination of the 2001 budget reveals that the European Union allocates over EUR 32 million
(64 billion lire) to 24 associations whose goal is to promote European civil society. Which criteria does the
Commission use to assess whether one association is more deserving of funding than another? What
criterion is used in monitoring the ways in which these associations make use of the funding?

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(29 January 2002)

On most of these lines, the Commission wishes to launch open calls for proposals in order to select the
organisations best placed to promote the idea of the European civil society at limited cost. These calls for
proposals clearly define the selection criteria to be met by the organisations. It was in that spirit that the
draft preliminary budget for 2002 was drawn up.

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/71

In the course of the budgetary procedure, this year as in previous years, Parliament explicitly stated who
the beneficiaries of the grants should be by means of amendments to the draft budget with regard to lines
such as A-3021, A-3026,
the lines relating to external relations and line A-3042. These are the
beneficiaries which Parliament feels are best suited to the purpose of these lines. These amendments list the
beneficiaries in the remarks or introduce specific lines for individual beneficiaries.

The Commission has indicated that it will respect the wishes of the budgetary authority expressed in the
remarks, provided that they do not run counter to its political objectives nor the rules and principles of
sound financial management.

Article 10 of
monitoring.

the standard grant agreements sets out

the arrangements for technical and financial

Moreover, before paying the last instalment, the Commission always checks how Community funds have
been used. With regard to operating grants, it requests an annual statement of accounts and it ensures that
the grant is a balancing subsidy for the organisation and that the co-financing rules are followed. Should
problems arise, a more thorough audit is carried out.

All the rules on the management of Commission grants are contained in the grant management vade
mecum, a public document available on the institutions’ Europa site (http://europa.eu.int/comm/
secretariat_general/sgc/info_subv/vm_gm.htm). Chapter 8 of the vade mecum gives detailed instructions
to managers for the regular monitoring of grants and beneficiaries, audits and the possible recovery of
amounts wrongly paid.

(2002/C 160 E/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3204/01

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(22 November 2001)

Subject: Illegal waste discharge in the Kotychi lagoon (Ileia)

Allegations have been made concerning the existence of an illegal and unauthorised discharge in the
vicinity of the Kotychi lagoon (Ileia) which is being used to dispose of waste from the municipality of
Lechaina and the surrounding area in a site protected under the Ramsar International Convention. The
hundreds of tonnes of waste accumulated in the area are being incinerated producing highly dangerous
fumes whose effects on the residents of Lechaina are as yet unknown and resulting in large quantities of
toxic substances and plastics being carried through drainage channels into the Kotychi lagoon.

Will the Commission investigate these allegations and establish whether Community environmental rules
are being infringed? If this proves to be the case, will it take steps to put an end to such infringements?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2002)

Greece has classified Kotychi Lagoon as a special protection area (code GR 2330006) under Council
Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (1). The same area is also
proposed under the same code as a site of Community importance pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/
EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2). With a view
to the inclusion of the site in the European ecological network Natura 2000, the Greek authorities must
ensure that the activities being undertaken do not cause any deterioration of the site, in accordance with
Article 6 of the Habitats Directive.