WRITTEN QUESTION E-1601/02 by Alexander Radwan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding for the University of Oradea in Romania.
Date: 2002-06-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Romania, cooperation in the field of education, education policy, financial management, terms for aid, university

C 301 E/190

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(2002/C 301 E/200)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1597/02

by Béatrice Patrie (PSE) to the Commission

(5 June 2002)

Subject: Interpretation guide for the Wild Birds Directive

Article 16 of Directive 79/409/EEC (1)
(Directive on the conservation of wild birds) provides for the
establishment of a committee for the adaptation of the Directive to technical and scientific progress,
the Member States and chaired by a Commission
consisting of representatives of NGOs and of
representative.

This committee of experts is at present helping the Commission to draw up an interpretation guide for the
Directive.

In view of the approaching hunting season, there is an urgent need for this guide to be completed as
quickly as possible.

1. When does the Commission intend to adopt the guide?

2. Will the guide allow Member States a certain flexibility when implementing the Directive, particularly
when fixing hunting seasons?

(1) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2002)

1.
The Commission confirms that a guidance document aimed at clarifying legal and technical
considerations relating to the hunting provisions of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the
conservation of wild birds is currently under preparation. It is intended to finalise this document before the
end of 2002.

2.
The guide is aimed at assisting Member States in fulfilling their role in fixing hunting seasons under
Article 7(4) of the Directive. It will also examine the possibilities for use of derogations under Article 9 of
the Directive, where this can be justified in the context of the objectives and requirements of the Directive.

(2002/C 301 E/201)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1601/02

by Alexander Radwan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 June 2002)

Subject: Funding for the University of Oradea in Romania

The University of Oradea in Romania, is involved in several EU programmes.

There are also institutes in the Member States which belong to the University of Oradea.

Does the University of Oradea receive payments directly from the European Union which it then

1.
forwards, or are the institutes funded directly?

Does the University of Oradea give exact details of which faculties and institutes receive money from

2.
the funds granted by the EU and of how much they receive?

3.

4.

How detailed must the accounts be?

To what extent is it ensured that the money is used only for public purposes?

5. What payments are received by the various institutes, and is it possible to inspect the accounts?

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Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2002)

The University of Oradea has received Community funds in the framework of Socrates/Erasmus
1.
(Action 1 (cid:1) Institutional Contract) for the implementation of the European Credit Transfer System and for
the Organisation of Mobility activities. In 2000/2001, the institution was a partner in a Curriculum
Development project coordinated by a Greek university and received Erasmus funding for this activity. The
funds for these activities were paid to the account notified by the University.

In the academic year 2001/2002, the University of Oradea also participated as a partner in two Intensive
Programmes, one Curriculum Development programme and in a project on the Dissemination of a
previous Curriculum Development activity. As a result of a change in the funding system this year, the
funds for these activities are paid to the coordinating universities which are responsible for forwarding the
respective shares of the financing to the partner universities.

Within the framework of the Leonardo programme, no centralised project coordinated by the University of
Oradea was funded.

Together with the other public universities in Romania, the University of Oradea was also involved in the
‘Higher Education Reform’ programme funded by PHARE in 1996. Like all public universities in the
programme the University of Oradea did not receive direct grants but received equipment (software and
hardware) and benefited from training activities and study visits and organised one seminar itself.

Within the fifth Community Framework Programme of Research and Technological Development (RTD),
the sole contract with the University of Oradea is an Accompanying Measure that aims to support a High-
Level Scientific Conferences (contract No HPCF-C2000-0039 ‘European Summer School on geothermal
energy applications’).

Only the legal entity which participates in RTD projects within the Fifth Framework Programme and
which has signed the contract with the Community may receive a Community financial contribution.
Consequently,
the financial contribution is directly paid to the contractor in accordance with the
indications laid down in the contract signed with the Community.

2.
According to the rules applied, the University is responsible for distribution of the Erasmus funds
mentioned above to its faculties involved according to the project application. As the University is the
contractor vis à vis the Commission, the University has to submit a Final Report on the funded activities.
This report requests, among other things, justification of expenditure carried out by the University.

3. and 4.
The Final Report requests justification of expenditure per Erasmus activity and per eligible cost
item, according to the terms of the Financial Agreement. In addition, the beneficiary has to provide an
activity report. The Final Report is assessed by the Commission supported by the Technical Assistance
Office as well as by external experts.
If the Final Report shows inconsistencies with regard to the
application or other shortcomings, the Commission requests the beneficiary to provide further information
and/or asks for reimbursement.

The Final Report on Erasmus activities implemented in 2000/2001 was submitted by 1 November 2001
and is undergoing the respective assessment procedure. The Final Report on Erasmus activities
implemented in 2001/2002 has to be submitted by 1 November 2002.

Concerning the above-mentionned research contract, the legal entity had to specify the expenses related to:

(cid:1) the participation of young researchers (travel, subsistence and participation fees);

(cid:1) the participation of invited keynote speakers/lecturers and scientific organisers,

including scientific

conference committee of any nationality (travel and subsistence);

(cid:1) the organisation of the project.

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The Community contribution is based on a percentage of cost claims submitted, provided that the costs
are necessary for the project, have actually been spent and have been recorded in the accounts or the tax
documents of the participant who has made the expenditures.

The implementation of activities supported by Community programmes can also be subject to an audit
carried out by the Commission and/or the European Court of Auditors.

5.

See points 1 and 2 above.

(2002/C 301 E/202)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1603/02

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 June 2002)

Subject: Funding for prototype riding helmet (L-TC158 WG 5) DG Enterprise

I would like to ask the Commission if it could give a factual response on the state of play of the above
funding project and outline the reasons it sees for the continued delay.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(11 July 2002)

The Commission issued mandate M 281 for revising standard EN 1384 concerning helmets for equestrian
sports (point 2 of the mandate). Initial Community funding for this work totalled EUR 15 317 (purchasing
order 03/281/99-35 of 22 December 1999 concluded between the European Committee for Standard-
isation (CEN) and the Commission).

An additional estimate for EUR 130 165 to fund lateral crush tests on riding helmets was submitted by the
CEN to the Commission on 28 June 2000.

In a letter of 13 September 2000, the Commission replied to the CEN that it had no objections in
principle to additional funding but requested information on the procedure for appointing the experts
responsible for carrying out the studies, since conflicts of interest were emerging with the members of the
CEN Technical Committee in charge of standardisation work. The Commission, in accordance with the
rules in force, wanted to see greater transparency and impartiality in this dossier before committing any
new appropriations, in particular via a call for applications.

In its letters of 19 February 2001 and 22 October 2001, the Commission urged the CEN to draw up a
new estimate on the basis of an invitation to tender to launch this research while ensuring that work
continued to progress on revising the standard.

Despite these reminders, the CEN has not submitted a new estimate to enable the Commission to fund this
research.

The CEN has informed the Commission that a lateral crush test would be developed by the Chairman of
Working Group 5 of Technical Committee 158 alongside the continuation of the standardisation work to
revise standard EN 1 384. This work is due to be completed on 30 April 2003.

In order to encourage the research in question, the Commission is, however, still willing to make a
financial contribution to the tests concerned on the basis of a request from the CEN.