WRITTEN QUESTION E-2015/02 by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Development plan for Campo de Gibraltar.
Date: 2002-07-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Gibraltar, Spain, United Kingdom, intra-EU relations, national sovereignty, territorial dispute

C 309 E/186

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(8 August 2002)

Under the new generation of regulations governing the operation of the Structural Funds adopted in 1999
provision is made for a number of responsibilities to be transferred to the national administrations. In line
with the principle of subsidiarity, the implementation of assistance is a matter for individual Member States
at the appropriate regional level depending on their specific circumstances.

Taking on these new tasks has meant that each Member State has had to make adjustments in the light of
its experience and political and administrative structure. The Commission does not impose a standard form
of decentralisation within the Member States. It confines itself to ensuring that the arrangements contained
in Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the
Structural Funds (1) and the Commission implementing Regulations
(EC) Nos 438/2001 (2) and
448/2001 (3) on the management and control systems and financial corrections are given full effect.

In its communication of 5 July 2001 (4) on the results of the programming of the Structural Funds for
2000-2006 (Objective 1), the Commission invites the Member States to step up their efforts to ensure that
more efficient use is made of the Structural Funds, in line with the new implementing regulations, in
particular as regards the computerised management systems in order also to help avoid delays in interim
payments. The Commission is planning to undertake a comparative analysis of financial management and
control systems which should help to identify best practice and to promote new solutions to problems
arising in this field

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 438/2001 of 2 March 2001 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of
Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 as regards the management and control systems for assistance granted
under the Structural Funds, OJ L 63, 3.3.2001.

(3) Commission Regulation (EC) No 448/2001 of 2 March 2001 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of
Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 as regards the procedure for making financial corrections to assistance
granted under the Structural Funds, OJ L 64, 6.3.2001.

(4) COM(2001) 378 final.

(2002/C 309 E/215)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2015/02

by Carlos Bautista Ojeda (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(9 July 2002)

Subject: Development plan for Campo de Gibraltar

Is the Commission aware of the level and progress of negotiations between the United Kingdom and Spain
on Gibraltar’s sovereignty?

In the event that these negotiations do not bear fruit, would the Commission still consider a plan to
develop the Campo de Gibraltar region financed through the Structural and Cohesion Funds?

Would the Commission link this economic and social development plan to the outcome of sovereignty
negotiations?

Does the Commission not consider that an ambitious development plan for the Campo de Gibraltar
region, which would resolve the serious problems facing it, would finally succeed in allaying the
‘suspicions’ on both sides of the dividing line?

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/187

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(2 August 2002)

The negotiations between the United Kingdom and Spain over Gibraltar are a bilateral matter for those
two Member States.

That said, the European Council in Barcelona asked the Commission to look at ways of contributing to any
agreement that might be reached. Once an agreement is reached, the Commission will make the necessary
proposals to this end.

The Campo de Gibraltar region already benefits from Community assistance in the 2000-2006 period
under the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund.

In the case of Community funding under Objective 1, the Campo de Gibraltar region already receives joint
funding under the Operational Programme for Andalusia (Community contribution = EUR 7,8 billion). It
receives joint funding under the Cohesion Fund for infrastructure to treat solid urban waste and to
improve the port infrastructure at San Roque, one of the region’s seven municipalities.

Lastly, the Campo de Gibraltar region is also part of the Interreg IIA Community Initiative through the
Spain-Morocco programme.

(2002/C 309 E/216)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2024/02

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 July 2002)

Subject: Recognition of qualifications

Further to an enquiry from Trevor Stent, who lives at 18 rue de Pontadig, 29520 Châteauneuf-de-Faou,
France, is the Commission aware that this person was not given equal treatment as a teacher in France,
despite his attainment of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Leicester (England),
in contravention of Council Directive 89/48/EEC (1) of 21 December 1988 on a general system for the
recognition of higher education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training?

The French authorities would not recognise his Postgraduate Certificate of Education, therefore Mr Stent
was employed with the status only of a supply teacher on a corresponding salary, and his contract had to
be renewed each year. At last he has managed to get a permanent contract; after five years of full-time
work he was given the right to an inspection which he passed and has now been given a permanent
contract.

Further to this, Mr Stent was told by his employer (L’Académie de Rennes) that his experience in England
would not be taken into account for salary purposes as it ‘was not in a French lycée’ despite the fact that
he has 25 years experience teaching the same subject (History in English) to the same age range of
students.

Will the Commission investigate this case and determine whether Trevor Stent’s rights under Directive 89/
48/EEC have been breached?

What measures does the Commission intend to take to promote mobility and to encourage a lifting of the
remaining obstacles to mutual recognition of qualifications and experience?

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989, p. 16.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2002)

Mr Stent’s case concerns two different issues: recognition of qualifications and recognition of professional
experience. The Commission is also in direct contact with Mr Stent.