WRITTEN QUESTION E-1719/02 by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Funding granted to the five new German Länder under the (three) financial instruments for SMEs.
Date: 2002-06-13
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Berlin, Brandenburg, EU financing, European undertaking, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, aid to undertakings, consortium, corporate finance, early-stage capital, inter-company cooperation, small and medium-sized enterprises

12.6.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 137 E/21

Supplementary answer
given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(15 November 2002)

Following the written question asked by the Honourable Member, the Commission asked the Italian
authorities to clarify the regulatory context governing the application of Council Directive 91/477/EC of
18 June 1991 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (1) and their transfer to another
Member State.

The Italian authorities explained to us that there was no obstacle to the temporary transfer of firearms into
Italy for holders of the European firearms pass, essentially for the purposes of target shooting and hunting,
providing also that the type of weapon used was authorised in Italy. Under this scenario, travellers can
bring in a limited quantity of weapons under very specific circumstances and return with these to their
country of origin. The Commission therefore considers that, in the case of marksmen and hunters, the
Italian regulations comply with the Directive.

It appears, however, from the information that the Commission has received to date that if the context is
different from that described in the previous paragraph, the Italian authorities make the transfer of firearms
into Italy subject to prior authorisation. This authorisation is conditional, in particular, upon the intending
importer from another Member State providing in advance an address for service at
the place of
destination of the weapons.

The Commission is examining whether this latter requirement is compatible with the provisions of
Directive 91/477/EEC and with Articles 28 to 30 of the EC Treaty, and will probably have to seek further
details from the Italian authorities.

(1) OJ L 256, 13.9.1991.

(2003/C 137 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1719/02

by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 June 2002)

Subject: Funding granted to the five new German Länder under the (three) financial instruments for SMEs

The 1988 ‘Growth and Employment Initiative’ included the creation of three financial instruments for
SMEs: the SME guarantee facility, the ETF start-up facility and the Joint European Venture (JEV). Can the
Commission indicate the amount of funding granted since their creation to the following German Länder:

(cid:1) Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania,

(cid:1) Brandenburg,

(cid:1) Berlin,

(cid:1) Saxony-Anhalt,

(cid:1) Thuringia,

(cid:1) Saxony?

Can the Commission break the figures down according to financial instrument and Land and, if possible,
indicate the percentage difference compared with the Länder in the former West Germany?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(19 August 2002)

Under the SME guarantee facility, small and medium-sized businesses in the new Länder and Berlin have
obtained some 4 100 loans, equivalent to 21,6 % of all loans granted to small and medium-sized businesses

C 137 E/22

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

12.6.2003

in Germany. The total amount of all guaranteed loans for such businesses in the new Länder comes to
more than EUR 125 million (20,4 % of the EUR 615 million in loans for the whole of Germany).

The amount granted in guarantees for Germany comes to EUR 485 million, of which EUR 100,3 million,
or 21 %, has benefited the new Länder and Berlin. Of the EUR 485 million, EUR 245,5 million is covered
by counter-guarantees from the European Investment Fund (EIF). As at 31 March 2002, EUR 236,4 million
of this amount was for the Deutsche Ausgleichsbank (50 % counter-guarantees from the EIF relating to a
guarantee amount of EUR 472,9 million and a loan amount of EUR 591,1 million (1)) and EUR 9 million
for the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (75 % counter-guarantees from the EIF relating to a guarantee
amount of EUR 12 million and a loan amount of EUR 24 million (2)).

Details of the breakdown for the individual Länder can be found in the tables sent direct
Honourable Member and the Secretariat of the European Parliament.

to the

Under the ETF start-up facility,
investments have been made in three venture capital funds that have
provided resources for start-up capital and invest primarily in Germany. Of these three funds, one is fully
invested. A Community participation in this fund was approved at the end of 1998. For the second fund,
whose first funding round was completed in mid-2000, around half of the approved resources have so far
been called. The participation in the third fund was approved in mid-May 2002; the funding round has not
yet been completed. Meaningful data allowing a comparison in terms of percentages between the old and
the new Länder are available for only one fund.

fund has called EUR 8,8 million of Community resources

the total capital of
This
EUR 39 million) and invested in 27 portfolio companies, 25 of which are based in Germany and two in
Switzerland.

(22,4 % of

Of the 25 companies, three (12 %) have their head office in the Länder mentioned by the Honourable
Member (two in Berlin, one in Saxony). These three companies have received funds from the venture
capital fund worth EUR 1,3 million in total.

The Joint European Venture (JEV) programme supports the creation of
joint ventures
between SMEs in the Member States of the EU and the European Economic Area. The Community
contribution is designed to cover expenses linked to setting up the joint venture (facility to co-finance
preparatory measures and investments).

transnational

The JEV also supports events to foster cooperation between SMEs with a view to setting up joint ventures
and to inform SMEs about the JEV programme (facility for events promoting the programme).

Since the start of the JEV programme, EUR 188 750 has been made available for applicants from the new
Länder and Berlin. These funds are paid out in instalments as the projects progress. Tables showing co-
financing of preparatory measures and investments and events promoting the programme are being sent
direct to the Honourable Member and the Secretariat of the European Parliament.

(1) The Deutsche Ausgleichsbank grants a release from liability for 80 % of the loan. This partial release from liability is

covered by a 50 % guarantee from the European Investment Fund.

(2) The Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau grants a 50 % release from liability, which is covered by a 75 % guarantee from

the European Investment Fund.

(2003/C 137 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1735/02

by Jan Mulder (ELDR) to the Commission

(17 June 2002)

Subject: Impact and cost of the European Union’s information services in the Member States

According to Eurobarometer (survey 56.3 dated 24 May 2002), 80 % of European Union citizens are still
totally unaware of the European Union’s information services. No more than 3 % of European Union
citizens use the European Union’s information services in the Member States as a source of information
about the European Union.