WRITTEN QUESTION E-2186/02 by Reinhard Rack (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Subsidies under ISPA.
Date: 2002-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Slovenia, accession to the European Union, pre-accession aid, private sector, public authorities, restriction on competition, waste disposal

C 92 E/142

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

17.4.2003

In view of the above:

(cid:1) Is the Commission aware of this issue?

(cid:1) Does it intend to take measures to ensure that the exact alcoholic content of these drinks is clearly

displayed on the labels?

(cid:1) Does it intend to take preventive steps to raise the awareness of young people with regard to alcohol

consumption, as it very wisely did in relation to smoking?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 2002)

The Commission is aware that this is a serious problem, and has supported several projects on this issue.
The second ESPAD study (European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs) concerns seven
Member States, and the ECAS (European Comparative Alcohol Studies) relate to all Member States except
Luxembourg, and highlight the importance of this problem.

In application of Directive 2000/13/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000
on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and
advertising of foodstuffs (1), it is obligatory to include the alcoholic strength by volume in the labelling of
beverages containing more than 1,2 % by volume of alcohol. This provision applies to the beverages
mentioned by the Honourable Member and to advertisement of these drinks.

Based on the Council’s conclusions of 5 June 2001 on a Community strategy to reduce the damage caused
by alcohol and on the Council Recommendation of 5 June 2001 on alcohol consumption among young
people, particularly children and adolescents, the Commission has already taken initiatives in this field, for
example by setting up a consultation group on alcohol problems with a view to developing a strategy in
this area.

Action will be taken under the new public health programme (2003-2008) to define a prevention strategy
and to carry out studies in order to help identify the problem.

Changing behaviour on alcohol consumption also requires the active involvement of national and regional
authorities,
families and individuals with a view to developing a healthy
approach to young people’s health education. If greater success can be achieved in enforcing measures in
place, significant progress could be made.

industry, retailers, parents,

(1) OJ L 109, 6.5.2000.

(2003/C 92 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2186/02

by Reinhard Rack (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 July 2002)

Subject: Subsidies under ISPA

The ISPA Programme supports infrastructure projects involving transport and the environment, including
projects in the field of waste disposal. However, criticisms are being levelled by industry, since it is alleged
that only projects submitted by public authorities are being subsidised. As a result of this competitive
advantage, waste disposal continues to be carried out in a large number of towns in Slovenia exclusively
by local authority waste disposal undertakings.

Is this information correct, or have I been misinformed? If it is correct, does the Commission see any way
in which this potentially deplorable state of affairs might be remedied?

17.4.2003

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 92 E/143

The real aim of EU support should be the improvement of environmental standards in the newly
democratised countries of Central and Eastern Europe,
the project.
Particularly in the target countries receiving such support, local authorities are frequently underfunded and
have an insufficient number of vehicles and inadequate facilities to do the job properly. In such instances,
a private partner could be very useful. Why should private undertakings not be able to submit a project
jointly with a local authority?

irrespective of who carries out

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(27 September 2002)

One of the objectives of ISPA is to support the candidate countries in their efforts to comply with the
Community environmental legislation, and in particular to help to support the costs of the infrastructure
investments required.

It is the responsibility of the national authorities to decide how the objectives of Community legislation
should be met, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.

Among existing Member States, the responsibility for the management of household waste is largely
delegated to the regional or municipal authorities and it falls to these authorities to decide on the type of
undertakings that will carry out the collection and treatment of such waste (private, public or mixed
undertaking). In the case of Slovenia, the removal and management of municipal waste is predominantly
performed by the existing municipal service companies.

Under Article 6 of
ISPA may provide up to 75 % of public or equivalent
expenditure on individual projects, including expenditure by bodies whose activities are undertaken within
an administrative or legal framework rendering them equivalent to public bodies.

the ISPA Regulation (1),

It is, therefore possible, under certain conditions, for private undertakings to submit a project jointly with a
local authority for support under ISPA.

The conditions that apply are intended to avoid market or the generation of excessive returns to private
operators as a result of public grants.

The Commission intends to present operational guidelines in order to assist both private and public
partners to prepare projects for support under ISPA.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1267/1999 of 21 June 1999 establishing an Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-

accession, OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2003/C 92 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2193/02

by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 July 2002)

Subject: EU fish meal industry

Can the Commission provide information on the production of fish meal in the EU, indicating which
Member States are involved, the number of vessels and processing plants engaged in fishing for and
processing species which are destined exclusively for the production of fish meal?

Can the Commission provide information on the final destination of fish meal produced in the EU,
indicating what percentage is earmarked for meal to be used as animal feed and what percentage is
destined for aquaculture?