WRITTEN QUESTION E-0117/03 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Urgent measures to stimulate innovation in the European regions.
Date: 2003-01-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, EU regional policy, Structural Funds, innovation, research and development, research policy

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/177

In the case of Sicily, this support (cid:1) part-financed by the Guidance Section of the European Agricultural
Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) (cid:1) was provided for under the Sicilia regional operational
programme for 2000-2006 under Objective 1 of the Community Structural Funds.

Under that programme, measure 4.15, action C) provides for possible assistance in the event of a natural
disaster to support inter alia investment in infrastructure (other than on the agricultural holding) required
for the active defence of production, and to support investment for recovering and restoring multi-annual
crops, animals, buildings and infrastructure, machinery and equipment.

This measure could be implemented through public financing of around EUR 20 million, with the EAGGF
contributing EUR 10,4 million.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002 of 11 November 2002 establishing the European Union Solidarity Fund,

OJ L 311, 14.11.2002.

(2003/C 161 E/182)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0117/03

by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: Urgent measures to stimulate innovation in the European regions

The European Union is experiencing increasing difficulties in becoming the world’s leading economic
player by the year 2010. Along with the structural problems afflicting it, such as high unemployment and
low productivity,
innovation, which is
preventing it from being as or more competitive than the United States or Japan.

is falling worryingly behind in the field of

technological

it

Urgent measures must therefore be taken to stimulate innovation in the European regions, not only in the
Member States, but also in the candidate countries, starting with fulfilment of the commitment the EU
leaders gave in Barcelona to dedicate 3 % of GDP to investment in research and development.

What strategy is the Commission proposing for campaigns to spur the whole of the Community economy
to develop a genuine policy of
future
Community actions?

innovation as one of the top priorities in all

technological

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

The Structural Funds of the Union represent the principal financial instruments to encourage innovation in
the regions. Via the Structural Funds, the Union is making an important contribution to increasing
competitiveness in accordance with the objectives set out by the European Council in Lisbon in the year
2000. A number of general and specific actions can be highlighted in this regard.

First, in the current programming period, 2000-2006, some EUR 9 billion are earmarked for Research,
including research projects based in
Technological Development and Innovation (R & TDI) support,
universities and research institutes, technology transfer involving less favoured regions, provision of
R & TDI
training for researchers, establishing business networks and
partnerships between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and developing the knowledge base. Out
of this total, more than EUR 6 billion will fund actions in the less developed regions eligible under
Objective 1 of the Structural Funds.

infrastructures and equipment,

Second, the Commission is also active in the promotion of regional innovation strategies and action plans
(‘RIS & RITTS’) in over 100 regions, helping regional authorities to establish public-private partnerships in
this field.

C 161 E/178

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

10.7.2003

Third, the European Regional Development Fund currently funds regional programmes for innovation.
These include actions in the field of the knowledge economy involving over 90 regions for the period
2001-2004 mobilising nearly EUR 300 million of public and private funding. The main objective of these
programmes is to identify new actions and policy avenues which allow regions to increase R & TDI
investments in the future, and thus help them spur their regional economies and attain the ‘Lisbon
objectives’.

In addition to the actions under the Structural Funds, the Framework Programmes for Research and
Technological Development support collaborative research and networks between researchers located in
different Member States and third countries. The recently launched sixth Framework Programme, with a
budget of EUR 17,5 billion for the period 2002-2006 supports the creation of a European Research Area
to promote the free movement of knowledge, researchers and technology (1). The regional dimension of
research is an important part of the European Research Area project.

Before the end of 2003, the Commission will present new proposals for regional policy in an enlarged
Europe taking account of the needs to maintain efforts to improve economic competitiveness. In the
second progress report on economic and social cohesion, the Commission presented new data on the
regional deficits in relation to R & TDI in the regions in the new, and in the existing, Member States.

(1)

‘The European Research Area: Providing New Momentum’, COM(2002) 565 final.

(2003/C 161 E/183)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0119/03

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 January 2003)

Subject: EU participation in the enlargement of the La Concepción dam, Marbella

The enlargement of the La Concepción dam in Marbella (Spain) is running dangerously behind schedule,
which gives cause for concern as it is an essential source of water for the whole of the Costa del Sol at a
point in time when a further 30 000 hotel rooms are under construction in the area, pointing to a
significant increase in tourism in this part of the developing region of Andalusia.

The enlargement of the dam will consist of the laying of a new section of dam, which will add 16 metres
to the dam’s current height and will almost double the capacity of the reservoir from 56 cubic hectometres
today to over one hundred cubic hectometres.

How much is the Community contributing to this very important project to supply water to the Costa del
Sol? To what extent would the Commission be prepared to consider giving the project a firm helping
hand?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(27 February 2003)

On 11 December 2002 the Spanish authorities sent the Commission an application for assistance from the
Cohesion Fund for a study entitled ‘El estudio y redacción del proyecto y estudio de impacto ambiental del
recrecimiento de la presa de la Concepción’ (The study and drafting of the project and environmental
impact assessment for increasing the height of the La Concepción dam). This is a technical study in
support of an eligible project, the total eligible cost of which is EUR 575 980. The rate of Community part-
financing requested by the Spanish authorities is 85 %. The Commission is currently considering the
application.

The Commission will consider any application for aid made by the Spanish State for the enlargement of
this dam, whether from the Cohesion Fund or the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in strict
compliance with the rules in force.