WRITTEN QUESTION P-1643/02 by Hans-Peter Martin (PSE) to the Commission. South Tyrol and EU enlargement.
Date: 2002-06-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU regional policy, Trentino-Alto Adige, eligible region, enlargement of the Union, rural development

C 52 E/84

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2003

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2002)

The Commission is not aware of the existence of any Maltese piece of legislation that would make it illegal
to criticize the Prime Minister in public.

Article 41 of the Maltese constitution provides that:

Except with his own consent or by way of parental discipline, no person shall be hindered in the
enjoyment of his freedom of expression,
including freedom to hold opinion without interference,
freedom to receive ideas and information without interference, freedom to communicate ideas and
information without interference (whether the communication be to the public generally or to any
person or class of persons) and freedom from interference with his correspondence.

The Commission is not aware of any law that would limit the freedom of expression enshrined in the
Constitution if this expression concerns the Prime Minister. On the contrary, reading the Maltese media
confirms that it is a common and frequent practice in Malta to criticize the Prime Minister and the
government.

The Commission stated in its 2001 Regular Report on Malta (1) that
‘Malta continues to fulfil the
Copenhagen political criteria … and the authorities’ record on democratic and human rights remains
generally good.’ The Commission will continue to monitor the respect of fundamental human rights and in
particular the freedom of expression in Malta.

(1) COM(2001) 700 final.

(2003/C 52 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1643/02

by Hans-Peter Martin (PSE) to the Commission

(3 June 2002)

Subject: South Tyrol and EU enlargement

Must the Italian province of South Tyrol expect cuts in funding following the planned EU enlargement?

If so, in what areas?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(29 July 2002)

For the 2000-06 programming period part of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano is eligible under
Objective 2. The Structural Fund contribution to the programme is EUR 32 400 000. The Trentino-Alto
Adige Region also has rural development eligibility (part-financing by the European Agricultural Guidance
and Guarantee Fund, Guarantee Section) and for that purpose EUR 118 670 000 has been assigned to
Bolzano Province for the same period.

These sums remain unchanged up to the end of 2006 even though enlargement is expected to begin
before than. For the period after 2006, the Commission has launched a wide debate on the future of
Union cohesion policy with publication of the second Cohesion Report in January 2001. Parliament has
been deeply involved in the discussions on this subject and has given a number of formal opinions on
various aspects of the subject. The Commission’s cohesion policy proposals, including those for regions
not lagging behind in development, will be made in the third Cohesion Report to be published at the end
of 2003.