WRITTEN QUESTION E-3278/02 by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission. Interreg III: objective disparities between Puglia-Albania and Albania-Greece programmes.
Date: 2002-11-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, Apulia, EU financing, EU initiative, Greece, cross-border cooperation, illegal migration, immigration

C 155 E/126

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.7.2003

In the event of failure by the Member States to comply with EU legislation on minimum stocks, the
Commission may launch the infringement procedure provided for under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. (In
this particular instance involving Greece,
took the form of a reasoned
opinion, i.e. the second stage in the infringement procedure provided for under Article 226.) Where a
reasoned opinion fails to evoke a satisfactory response together with action by the Member State
concerned, the Commission may refer the matter to the Court of Justice.

the abovementioned request

(2003/C 155 E/139)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3278/02

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(19 November 2002)

Subject: Interreg III: objective disparities between Puglia-Albania and Albania-Greece programmes

Under the Interreg III A programme the following cooperation programmes have been approved:

A. Puglia-Albania, funding of EUR 33 million; the programme is a consolidation of the measures taken
under Interreg II, which amounted to EUR 81,5 million; it concerns a total area of 38 486 km2 and,
according to the Commission, a population of 6,2 million, of whom 2,8 million live in Italy and
approximately 3,4 million in Albania;

B. Greece-Albania, funding of EUR 90 million, including EUR 70,4 million essentially designed to set up
a real and well guarded border between the two countries; the programme concerns a population of
1,4 million,
including 900 000 Greeks and 500 000 Albanians, who live in two extremely poor
regions situated on either side of the border.

Quite apart from such aspects as the financial quotas set for each Member State, the size of territory, the
number of inhabitants concerned and the standard of living in the areas in question, the border issue, in
terms of security and actual movement of illegal immigrants from Albania to the European Union, involves
almost exclusively the landing of vessels on the Puglia region’s coasts.

The Puglia region’s repeated efforts over the years to contribute to the development of Albania are
unequalled in the Union, apart from the Community’s own contributions. The intensity and quality of its
institutional relations and its contribution to the improvement of public administration are well known.
Moreover, with the ‘Fiera del Levante’ organisation, it has promoted an annual trade fair in Tirana. The
fourth fair, which took place in May 2002, was attended by 303 operators and over 40 000 visitors
coming not only from Puglia, but also from Montenegro, Macedonia, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia,
Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

in
Does the Commission not consider that measures should be taken to provide further investment,
addition to the scheduled programmes, which will ensure adequate development of Albania and thus act as
a deterrent against mass emigration across the Adriatic to the European Union and illegal landings on the
Puglia coastline?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2003)

Within the limits of the funds allocated to them, the Member States themselves have defined the financial
allocation for each Interreg III programme in which they participate, including therefore those involving
Greece, Italy and Albania.

Albania, with the other Balkan countries, will also participate in a new Interreg programme (Interreg IIIA
‘Italy-Adriatic’), which is now being approved, and will receive a Community contribution totalling
EUR 50.5 million. It should be noted that, while projects part-financed under Interreg programmes must
be located within the Union, they must have a clear impact on the non-member countries concerned.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Immigration and security in the southern Adriatic are also the subject of other measures under the
Structural Funds programmes, including the ‘Sicurezza’ Programme 2000-2006 for the Italian Objective 1
regions and the Interreg III ‘Archimed’ Programme for the Mezzogiorno and Greece which the Commission
is currently approving.

In addition to the assistance provided by the Interreg Programmes between Albania and Italy/Greece, the
Commission adopted in 2001 a Country Strategy Paper for Albania (CSP). This document includes a
multiannual
indicative programme (MIP) allocating all together EUR 143,9 million to Albania between
period 2002-2004 (for the period 2001-2004 the amount increases to EUR 181,4 million). This assistance
will be implemented under the Cards programme. Almost half of the total amount is allocated to actions
such as strengthening the judiciary, assisting in the integrated border management as well as those in the
fields of public order, asylum and migration and organised crime.

In addition the CARDS Regional Programme assists the whole region in the areas of integrated border
management, democratic stabilisation,
infrastructure with a financial
allocation of EUR 80 million for the period 2002-2004.

institution building and regional

The matter of illegal migration is also raised in different political fora. It will also be discussed in the
context of the future negotiations of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) between the
Union and Albania.

(Justice and Home Affairs) formally authorised the
In addition, on 28 November 2002 the Council
Commission to negotiate a readmission agreement between the Community and Albania. Once concluded,
that agreement will help fight illegal immigration from Albania more effectively and promote economic
prosperity in the region, so helping solve the underlying causes of the flows of migrants.

(2003/C 155 E/140)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3279/02

by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 November 2002)

Subject: Presentation of a gift to the Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne

Is it true that the Commissioner David Byrne has received a silver bust of Goethe weighing 20 kilos?

If so, did he receive it as a prize for his decisive action against smoking?

If this is the case, by whom and on what occasion was the silver bust presented?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2002)

The Member of the Commission in charge of health and consumer protection received on 26 September
2002 the Goethe Challenge Trophy for Smoke-Free Environment at the 5th European Health Forum in the
Austrian resort of Bad Hofgastein. The ‘Goethe Endowment for Non-Smoking’ presents the award every
year to institutions, university departments and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to
ensuring a smoke-free environment.

The ‘Goethe Challenge Trophy’ is a bust in silver weighing approximately 20 kilograms in the likeness of
Goethe. The trophy was donated by the internationally famous physician and chemist, Professor Friedrich
Portheine, who founded the trophy and the Endowment for Non-Smoking that bears his name in 1990.