WRITTEN QUESTION E-3794/02 by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Second Community Support Framework.
Date: 2003-01-07
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, Greece, Structural Funds, exchange of information, operational programme, validation of expenditure

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/145

Initially, these operations led to a sharp rise in fox populations, and the number of vaccines distributed per
square kilometre had to be increased in order to achieve sufficient vaccination coverage to stop viral
circulation.

Populations then stabilised depending on the availability of food and the territorial behaviour of the
species.

(2003/C 161 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3792/02

by Giovanni Pittella (PSE) to the Commission

(17 December 2002)

Subject: Application of the automatic decommitment rule

Under Article 31(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on the
Structural Funds (1), ‘The Commission shall automatically decommit any part of a commitment which has
not been settled by the payment on account or for which it has not received an acceptable payment
application …; the contribution from the Funds to … [the] assistance [in question] shall be reduced by
that amount’.

As regards commitments in the first year of the new programming period, from 2000 to 2006, the rule
will be implemented (in accordance with the procedures and time frames set out
in Commission
communication C(2002)1942, adopted on 27 May 2002) taking into account all payment applications
sent to the Commission not later than 31 December 2002.

The Commission will recover the sums concerned, which will be permanently forfeited by the initial
recipients.

What proportion of funding is in danger of being lost to regions whose development is lagging behind
once the above rule has been enforced, as is shortly due to happen?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2003)

The extent of any de-commitment of resources allocated to the Member States under the Structural Funds
is unknown at this stage in view of the ongoing work by the services of the Commission to evaluate
payment requests forwarded by the national authorities.

While this is the case, the information that is available at present suggests that the total amount at risk of
de-commitment is very limited, and in any case, unlikely to exceed 0,4 % of the total funds committed
under the Structural Funds for the year 2000.

(2003/C 161 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3794/02

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(7 January 2003)

Subject: Second Community Support Framework

The deadline for the completion of payments within the framework of the programmes of the Second CSF
ended on 31 December 2001.

Will the Commission provide a detailed table of the overall commitments and any disbursements made in
respect of each structural fund and each operational programme and of the balance due to be paid to
Greece as payment for these programmes?

C 161 E/146

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2003)

To date, payments for Greece under Objective 1 in the 1994-1999 programming period account for 91 %
of commitments.

The Commission is sending the Honourable Member and the Parliament Secretariat a detailed table with
the information requested for each operational programme.

(2003/C 161 E/150)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3804/02

by Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 December 2002)

Subject: Natural disasters

A number of regions in western Greece were struck by a very powerful earthquake on 2 December 2002.
Houses and shops were very seriously damaged, goods were destroyed and economic activity, especially in
the Prefecture of Ilia, was disrupted.

Does this disaster meet the conditions and terms for the implementation of the new regulation setting up
the new fund for natural disasters?

Is the Greek Government able to obtain funds from the Regional Operational Fund to repair the damage?

What other measures could the Commission take or propose to this end?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(24 January 2003)

The main purpose of the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) is to grant emergency aid in the event of
major natural disasters having serious repercussions on living conditions, the natural environment or the
economy in one or more regions of the affected country. A ‘major disaster’ within the meaning of the
EUSF Regulation means a disaster resulting in damage estimated either at over EUR 3 billion in 2002
prices, or more than 0,6 % of the country’s gross national income (GNI).

Under exceptional circumstances a region can also benefit from assistance from the Fund, where that
region has been affected by an extraordinary disaster affecting the major part of its population with serious
and lasting repercussions on living conditions and the economic stability of the region.

The mobilisation of the EUSF requires the submission of an application to the Commission by the national
authorities within ten weeks of the date when the first damage occurred.

Furthermore, as regards the use of funds available within the regional programme concerned (ROP
Western Greece), it is up to the Greek authorities to decide whether they wish to use part of these funds to
deal with some of the damage caused by the earthquake to which the Honourable Member refers, subject
to the Regulations governing the implementation of the Structural Funds, and in particular the rules on
eligibility in force.