WRITTEN QUESTION E-0755/02 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Interreg III A programme (Almería).
Date: 2002-03-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Andalusia, EU financing, EU programme, Morocco, cross-border cooperation, eligibility criteria, eligible region, frontier, regional policy, sea

C 229 E/132

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.9.2002

Commission has no authority in such matters, it nevertheless continues to hope that airline operators will
recognise the significance and the necessity of travel to and from Strasbourg as one of the seats of the
European Parliament and will consequently seek to ensure increased convenience of travel to and from the
city at reasonable prices.

(1) OJ C 203 E, 18.7.2000.
(2) OJ C 280 E, 3.10.2000.
(3) Written reply, 4.10.2000.

(2002/C 229 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0751/02

by Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(19 March 2002)

Subject: Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs) in the UK

Is the Council aware of the PFI approach in the UK and does the Council consider it to be in line with
existing public procurement legislation? Furthermore, does the Council judge that such practices are in line
with the Commission’s proposal for a new directive on the coordination of procedures for the award of
public supply contracts, public service contracts and public work contracts (1), particularly with regard to
Articles 1.7 and 32? Finally, what would the Council’s evaluation be of the consequences were the
Directive to be amended according to the amendments passed by the European Parliament, in particular
Amendment 24?

(1) COM(2000) 275 final 8 OJ C 29 E, 30.1.2001, p. 11.

Reply

(26 June 2002)

It is not the Council’s habit to give its views on a text which is undergoing the legislative procedure
leading to its adoption. It invites the Honourable Member to put her question to the Commission as
regards compatibility of the methods referred to with the proposal for a new Directive.

(2002/C 229 E/151)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0755/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Interreg III A programme (Almería)

(19 March 2002)

The exclusion of the Province of Almería (autonomous community of Andalusia) from the Interreg III A
programme of funding, which focuses on cross-border cooperation with Morocco, has given rise to much
concern among the inhabitants of the province owing to the fact that its proximity to Morocco means that
the two areas have many common interests deriving from the constant flow of persons and goods through
the province’s port and the large number of Moroccan citizens who have been drawn into the province by
its agricultural development.

Given the above, why does the Province of Almería not come within the scope of the Interreg II

1.
programme which was adopted in 1992?

In view of the fact that the province was again left out of the Interreg III A programme in 1999
2.
(covering the period 2000 to 2006), what likelihood is there of it being included in the next Interreg
programme which will be drawn up at the end of the current programme?

Is there any possibility of the province being able to benefit from the programme during the 2003 to

3.
2006 financial years, and if so, what procedures should be followed?

26.9.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 229 E/133

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2002)

Almeria is ineligible for strand A Cross-border cooperation of the Interreg III Community Initiative. This
strand is in essence concerned with cooperation across land frontiers, maritime areas being eligible only in
exceptional circumstances. For the same reason Almeria was ineligible for Interreg II Spain/Morocco over
the period 1994-1999.

Almeria is however eligible for two strand B Transnational cooperation Interreg programmes for the
period 2000-2006: Western Mediterranean,
to which the European Regional Fund contribution is
€ 103 800 000 and South-West Europe, to which the contribution is € 66 135 000. Under the first of
these it is proposed to expedite transnational cooperation between the European zones covered and the
North African countries.

Almeria is also eligible under strand C Interregional cooperation of Interreg III.

It can also benefit under the Objective I Operational Programme Andalusia, which has been allocated
€ 7 840 400 000 from the Structural Funds, of which € 6 152 700 000 is from the ERDF.

The Commission cannot comment at this stage on continuation of Interreg after 2006 or what areas
would be eligible. It has no plans to alter the list of eligible areas in Annex I to its Communication to the
Member States of 28 April 2000 (1).

(1) Communication from the Commission to the Member States of 28 April 2000 laying down guidelines for
Community Initiative concerning trans-European cooperation intended to encourage harmonious and balanced
development of the European territory 8 Interreg III (OJ C 143, 23.5.2000).

(2002/C 229 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0758/02

by Jens-Peter Bonde (EDD) to the Council

(19 March 2002)

Subject: Special forms of representation

Will the Council consider special forms of representation in the European Parliament for the Åland Islands
and other autonomous regions that currently have no representation under existing electoral systems used
for elections to the European Parliament?

Reply

(26 June 2002)

The Council would inform the Honourable Member that it is not competent to speak on the issue of
special forms of representation in the European Parliament for the territories in question. In any event, the
Council wishes to remind the Honourable Member that a projected electoral procedure, as provided for in
Article 190(4) of the TEC, is currently being prepared.