WRITTEN QUESTION E-3490/01 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Objective One.
Date: 2002-01-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, European cultural event, North West (England), Structural Funds, aid system

C 160 E/122

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

4.7.2002

In reply to the Honourable Member’s question about the status of Charleroi and the surrounding area, to
give some facts without prejudging the analysis in progress, the Commission informs the Honourable
Member that, based on the regional aid map for Belgium for 2000-2006, which was considered
compatible with Article 87(3)(c) (formerly Article 92) of the EC Treaty (1),
it can be considered a ‘less
favoured’ region eligible for regional aid, with an aid intensity ceiling of 20 % net grant equivalent.

(1) State aid No 799/1999 3 Belgium. Decision available from site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/secretariat_general/sgb/

state_aids/industrie_1999.htm.

(2002/C 160 E/157)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3488/01

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Environment and the EIB

What does the Commission think of
concerning the environmental impact of their projects?

the detail given on the European Investment Bank’s website

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(14 February 2002)

The Commission understands that the European Investment Bank (EIB) has established a website (1) where
limited information is provided concerning projects introduced to the EIB for financing.

Apparently the purpose is to give to all interested parties a general view of all important aspects related to
these projects, i.e. project description, project objectives as well as environmental aspects.

Requests for additional information concerning these aspects may be addressed as indicated in the above
website to the Information and Communications Department of the EIB.

(1) http://www.europaworld.org/issue15/theeuropeaninvestmentbank291200.htm.

(2002/C 160 E/158)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3490/01

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: Objective One

Is the Commission aware that Objective One funding has been allocated by Merseyside, in the UK, to the
Liverpool City Council bid for the 2008 European Capital of Culture?

Whilst acknowledging that the partnership is permitted to make such a decision, would the Commission
agree that this is an inappropriate use of funds, and puts other cities which do not qualify for such funding
at an unfair disadvantage?

4.7.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 160 E/123

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(11 February 2002)

The Commission has no information regarding the total resources, public or private, allocated by the
different cities in the United Kingdom, including Liverpool, in order to prepare bids for the 2008 European
Capital of Culture.

With regard to the possible use of resources allocated to Liverpool under the Structural Funds for this
purpose, the Commission wishes to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the decentralised
nature of decision-making that applies to all European regional development programmes. In particular,
the selection of the individual projects for support under these programmes is a matter for the regional
partnerships once the broad strategic priorities have been agreed with the Commission, and in accordance
with rules on eligible expenditures.

Many such programmes contain actions that aim to enhance a region’s image and identity, for example, in
order to attract outside investment and new jobs. In this context, it is possible that in the normal course of
their work the regional partnerships may select projects for European support in a variety of fields that
promote the image of the area and which could impinge, directly or indirectly, on matters relating to the
preparation of a bid in the context of the European Capital of Culture.

(2002/C 160 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3493/01

by Pere Esteve (ELDR) to the Commission

(8 January 2002)

Subject: European Parliament resolution of 11 December 1990 on Catalan

In the European Parliament’s resolution of 11 December 1990 on languages in the Community and the
situation of Catalan (A3-0169/90) (1) the Commission was asked to take action to achieve the following
objectives:

1.

2.

3.

4.

the publication in Catalan of the Community’s treaties and basic texts;

the use of Catalan for disseminating public information concerning the European institutions in all the
media;

the inclusion of Catalan in the programmes set up by the Commission for learning European
languages;

the use of Catalan by the Commission’s offices in its written and oral dealings with the public in the
autonomous communities in question.

Furthermore, it is mentioned in the resolution that, under the rules of procedure of the Court of Justice,
Catalan may already be used at the Court by witnesses and experts if they are unable adequately to express
themselves in one or the procedural languages of the court.

According to what Parliament’s and the Commission’s offices in Barcelona have to say regarding item 4
above, Catalan is used as a matter of routine in everyday work, in communications and information aimed
at the general public, in activities which they organise on their own initiative, etc.

However, only some of the literature and information published by the European Parliament at its Madrid
office has been issued in Catalan. Parliament and the Commission have tried to ensure that more of their
publications are brought out in Catalan, but this has been hindered by inadequate funding and the lack of
clearer rules. Most promotional literature and information material has been, and continues to be, issued in
Spanish.