WRITTEN QUESTION E-0555/02 by Giovanni Pittella (PSE), Guido Bodrato (PPE-DE), Luigi De Mita (PPE-DE),Giovanni Fava (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE), Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE),Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE), Giorgio Napolitano (PSE), Mauro Nobilia (UEN),Guido Podestà (PPE-DE), Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN), Guido Sacconi (PSE),Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR), Mariotto Segni (UEN)and Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Implementation of the Structural Funds for the 1994-1999 programming period.
Date: 2002-02-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Italy, Structural Funds, commitment of expenditure, computer systems, language teaching, telematics, vocational training

C 229 E/102

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Given that the safety of Iran Air flights is directly jeopardised by the embargo, with innocent human
beings the victims, will the Council say:

1. whether it can confirm the refusal to sell Airbus to Iran Air,

2. whether it feels jointly responsible for the innocent lives lost, and

3. whether it proposes to reconsider its policy forthwith?

Reply

(26 June 2002)

The issues raised by the Honourable Member do not fall within the Union’s competence.

(2002/C 229 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0555/02

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE), Guido Bodrato (PPE-DE), Luigi De Mita (PPE-DE),
Giovanni Fava (PSE), Fiorella Ghilardotti (PSE), Vincenzo Lavarra (PSE),
Francesco Musotto (PPE-DE), Giorgio Napolitano (PSE), Mauro Nobilia (UEN),
Guido Podestà (PPE-DE), Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN), Guido Sacconi (PSE),
Luciana Sbarbati (ELDR), Mariotto Segni (UEN)
and Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(28 February 2002)

Subject: Implementation of the Structural Funds for the 1994-1999 programming period

Given that:

2 the activities cofinanced by the Structural Funds for the 1994-1999 programming period were

concluded on 31 December 2001;

2 the time taken to approve the programmes meant that it was not possible to make the relevant

payments and commitments until 1995.

2 although the final figures for implementation are not yet available, the report on the arrangements
and implementation times for cofinanced measures under the Structural Funds published by the
Presidency of the Council of Ministers says on page 213 that, in the case of the ESF, spending for
Objective 3 in Italy as at December 1999 was 66 % of the total;

2 a joint study by the London School of Economics and the University of Castellanza has sounded an
alarm bell about Italy’s spending capacity in relation to the Structural Funds and on 30 June 2001 the
Sole 24 Ore newspaper reported non-payment of EUR 5,2 billion;

2 the total amount unspent by Italy is apparently more than a billion Euro;

2 the spending capacity of the Funds has been affected by the introduction of new and highly complex
procedures involving the regions and provinces to a greater extent in programming and spending;

2 at the end of the programming period concluded in 1993, a bridging programme was set up for funds

not used;

2 Italy is lagging far behind in terms of training in informatics and telematics and languages and despite
having raised training requirements in these areas and having introduced compulsory training for all
apprentices, it finds itself in a position where this requirement is being widely ignored owing to lack
of funds.

In the light of the above, can the European Commission give details of the total amount of Structural Fund
resources not used in Italy during the 1994-1999 programming period and corresponding figures for the
other EU countries?

26.9.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/103

Can the Commission assess the feasibility of a bridging programme which would allow the sums not spent
to be used rapidly in three areas (computer literacy, language learning and training of apprentices) on the
basis of national plans that could be launched immediately?

Finally, could the Commission assess the feasibility of increasing the funding for those programmes that
have demonstrated high levels of efficiency and effectiveness in expenditure?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 April 2002)

Although for the 1994-1999 Structural Fund programming period the final date for eligibility of
expenditure (except where an extension was granted) is 31 December 2001 the Commission is at present
unable to notify the amounts not spent by Member States.

The reason is that under Article 21(4) of Regulation (EEC) 4253/88 as amended by Regulation (EEC)
No 2082/93 (1) Member States have until 30 June 2002 to send the Commission the final statements of
expenditure and full programme execution reports. Only after these documents have been processed will
the Commission be able to work out the sums not used by each Member State and execute the closure
operations accordingly.

To permit Community and national commitments to be made the cut-off date for Member States’
proposals to the Commission for adjustments to the 1994-1999 programmes, including proposals for new
areas of spending, was 31 December 1999. Any amounts not covered by a declaration of expenditure will
be decommitted from the Community budget. There is no provision in the Community rules for unused
sums to be recovered by a ‘bridging programme’.

Article 44 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on
the Structural Funds (2) details
the 2000-2006
programming period under which 4 % of total commitment appropriations remain unallocated until the
first quarter of 2004 after assessment of all programmes.

the innovative performance reserve provision for

the objectives agreed in the operational programmes, single
Performance will be measured against
programming documents and programme complements. The monitoring indicators to be used will gauge
financial
implementation, management and effectiveness. The Commission considers that the positive
impact of the performance reserve lies in allocation of additional funds to the programmes that have
demonstrated high levels of effectiveness and administrative efficiency in Structural Fund utilisation.

(1) Council Regulation (EEC) No 2082/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 laying down
provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the different
Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank and the other
existing financial instruments, OJ L 193, 31.7.1993.

(2) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2002/C 229 E/116)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0556/02

by Renzo Imbeni (PSE) and Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Council

Subject: Visas for non-Community citizens residing in Switzerland

(4 March 2002)

Several hundred thousand immigrants, mainly from the Balkan States and Turkey, are living in Switzerland
with valid long-term residence permits. Whenever they need to cross EU borders (Italy, Austria, Germany
and, to a lesser extent, France) they have to apply for a visa. The FIM (Forum for the Integration of
Migrants set up recently in Switzerland) suggests that instead of the visa requirement, they should have to
present their passports and a valid residence permit.