WRITTEN QUESTION P-1545/02 by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission. Community financing of Madrid-Valencia high-speed rail link.
Date: 2002-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing, EU financing arrangements, European Regional Development Fund, Spain, rail network, trans-European network

C 309 E/134

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

Is the Council aware that ILGA has consultative status at the Council of Europe and is recognised as
is receiving financial support under the Community

4.
a legitimate actor in civil society by the EU, e.g.
Action Programme to combat discrimination, as established by the Council on 27 November 2000 (1)?

Is the Council aware that ILGA has included in its constitution support for the UN Convention of the
5.
Rights of the Child, condemns sexual abuse of children and neither promotes nor seeks the legalisation of
paedophilia?

6.
How will the Council redress the serious damage to the coherence and credibility of EU human rights
and anti-discrimination policies caused by this defection of a Member State currently holding the EU
Presidency?

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000, p. 23.

Reply

(8 October 2002)

The Council is informed of the votes cast by the EU members of ECOSOC on 30 April 2002, and
1.
notes that 29 ECOSOC members voted against
ILGA’s consultative status in ECOSOC with only
17 members voting in favour. This resulted in ECOSOC endorsing the NGO Committee decision to
exclude ILGA from ECOSOC consultative status.

2. While it is fully aware of the contents of Articles 11(2) and 18(2) of the Treaty on European Union,
the instances where the Presidency cannot present an EU position in international
and regrets
organisations, the Council cannot comment on national positions taken by individual Member States.

The Council is indeed aware that the ILGA has consultative status at the Council of Europe as an
3.
the ILGA is
international non-governmental organisation (NGO). The Council also understands that
receiving financial support under the Community Action Programme to combat discrimination (1). It is also
informed of the contents of the ILGA constitution.

The Council recalls that, with the European Parliament and the Commission, it jointly proclaimed the
4.
Charter of Fundamental Rights at the meeting of the European Council held in Nice from 7 to 9 December
2000, and reaffirms the great value it attaches to Article 21(1) thereof. It further recognises the value of the
contribution of NGOs, such as the ILGA, in fighting discrimination as well as their value as advocates of
people who are exposed to discrimination.

5.
The Council will continue its efforts to ensure that, in accordance with Article 19 of the Treaty on
European Union, Member States coordinate their action in international organisations and at international
conferences and uphold the common positions in such fora.

(1) OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.

(2002/C 309 E/159)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1545/02

by María Sornosa Martínez (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2002)

Subject: Community financing of Madrid-Valencia high-speed rail link

link between Madrid and south-eastern Spain (the Levante)

The rail
is included in the proposed
Community support framework for Objective 1 regions in Spain, and is, therefore, eligible for Community
funding under the ERDF for 2000-2006. This high-speed train link would also be eligible for Community
aid under the Cohesion Fund headings relating to the trans-European transport networks.

12.12.2002

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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Under the legal basis for the funding of the trans-European networks, the total amount of Community
participation may not exceed 10 % of the total cost of investment.

In its answers to Questions H-0203/00 (1) and H-0612/00 (2) (both by the author of the present question),
the Commission said that it had still not received any proposal concerning financing of the Madrid-
Valencia high-speed rail link from the Spanish authorities, and that it was not aware of the statements by
the economic affairs ministry of the Valencian regional government claiming that the project would be
funded almost entirely by the EU.

Can the Commission state whether it has received any proposal concerning financing of the Madrid-
Valencia high-speed rail link from the Spanish authorities, and whether funds are still available under the
headings applicable to this infrastructure project?

(1) Written answer of 14.3.2000.
(2) Written answer of 6.9.2000.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 July 2002)

The rail link between Madrid and Valencia, including the branch to Albacete, has been identified as a ‘line
to be specially built for high speed’ and included as such in Annex I to Parliament and Council Decision
No 1692/96/EC of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for development of the trans-European
transport network (1). Aid for it can be granted from the budget for trans-European transport networks
(TEN-T) and the Structural and Cohesion Funds.

The Spanish authorities have at present sent an application for assistance from the TEN-T budget for
planning of the high speed rail link Madrid/Castilla-La Mancha/Comunidad Valenciana/Murcia, of which
the Madrid-Valencia line will be part. The Community aid for the planning work is EUR 37 000 000 for
the period 2001-2006 out of a total estimated eligible cost of EUR 104 200 000.

The appropriations available from the European Regional Development Fund under measure 6,3 Railways
of the Operational Programmes Comunidad Valenciana and Castilla-La Mancha are EUR 249 700 000 and
EUR 156 500 000 respectively for the period 2000-2006. No project in connection with the abovemen-
tioned work has yet been notified to the Commission. However for Structural Fund assistance purposes
only projects of more than EUR 50 000 000 have to be notified to the Commission for approval.

Under Cohesion Fund rules 50 % of the available budget is devoted to transport. No request for part-
financing has yet been made for construction of this rail line.

(1) OJ L 228, 9.9.1996.

(2002/C 309 E/160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1546/02

by Wolfgang Ilgenfritz (NI) to the Commission

(3 June 2002)

Subject: EU Commission Representation in Vienna

In spring 2002, the position of Head of the European Commission Representation in Vienna, vacant since
November 2001, was advertised throughout the EU. According to media reports, these advertisements do
not appear to have been based on objective criteria.