WRITTEN QUESTION E-0409/03 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding for report on the subject of deregulation of electricity market in Ireland.
Date: 2003-02-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Ireland, electrical industry, liberalisation of the market, report

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/99

Was the award of the contract to ODC to undertake studies for the ‘Place de l’Union européenne’
(Place J. Rey) carried out in keeping with the provisions of Council Directive 92/50/EEC of 18 June 1992,
relating to the coordination of procedures for the award of public service contracts (specifically, the
freedom to provide services)?

(1) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(21 May 2003)

The Honourable Member’s first question concerns the European Footpaths international architectural
competition, which was the subject of a complaint to the Commission. Having considered the case the
Commission sent a reasoned opinion to the Kingdom of Belgium on 9 February 2001. Following that, the
Belgian authorities decided to terminate the contract with the competition winner and acknowledged that
the objections raised by the Commission were valid. The complaint procedure was brought to a close by a
Commission Decision of 24 April 2002.

Of the sum of EUR 150 000 disbursed by the European Institutions for the purposes of this competition,
EUR 101 875 was spent on the administrative and logistic costs of organising the competition and
EUR 48 125 was spent on the prizes awarded for the best projects, including EUR 17 500 awarded to the
winner. Reimbursement can only be claimed for the last amount. A letter will be sent to the Brussels
Region to ascertain its intentions on this matter and, if appropriate, repayment will be sought.

Secondly, the Honourable Member wishes to know whether the provisions of Council Directive 92/50/EEC
of 18 June 1992 were observed in the award of another service contract for design studies for the
European Union Plaza.

The Commission is in contact with the Belgian authorities in order to examine this matter and specifically,
to assess whether this contract falls within the financial thresholds set by the Directive.

(2003/C 268 E/099)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0409/03

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(17 February 2003)

Subject: Funding for report on the subject of deregulation of electricity market in Ireland

Is the Commission aware if there is funding available at EU level for the publication of a report on the
subject of deregulation of the electricity market in Ireland?

If such funding exists, can the Commission outline the criteria for qualifying for such funding?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2003)

The Commission has to inform the Honourable Member that no funding is available at Community level
for the publication of a report on the opening of the Irish electricity markets. However, the Commission
has published two reports on the implementation of the internal electricity and gas market (staff working
documents ‘First Benchmarking Report’ (1) and ‘Second Benchmarking Report’ (2)) which consider the issue
of deregulation in all Member States in considerable detail. The Honourable Member might also wish to
consult the publications of the Commission for Energy Regulation, the Irish Regulator for Electricity and
Gas.

(1) SEC(2001) 1957.
(2) SEC(2002) 1038.