WRITTEN QUESTION E-0596/03 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Follow-up of new situations in terms of economic development in EU regions.
Date: 2003-02-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU regional policy, Middle Norrland (Sweden), Sweden, economic and social cohesion, economic structure, employment statistics, report

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/37

(2004/C 65 E/036)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0596/03

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(28 February 2003)

Subject: Follow-up of new situations in terms of economic development in EU regions

The Swedish Institute for Growth Policy Studies recently published a report on the state of the regions in
2002. This report shows that central Norrland in Sweden had the worst employment trend in the entire
Union between 1996 and 2001. The trend in GRP does not look much better. Central Norrland is in
198th place of the EU’s 204 regions.

These are interesting figures in that they illustrate what has happened in Sweden since the country’s
accession to the EU.

Does the Commission take due account of such information when future structural aid is discussed? What
lessons can be learned from the case of central Norrland since EU accession?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(10 April 2003)

The performance of the regions in Sweden has varied considerably over recent years, although the
evidence suggests that the region of Mellersta Norrland has performed less well than many other regions of
the Union.

The second progress report on economic and social cohesion (1), adopted by the Commission on
30 January 2003, presents the most recent statistical information for all regions in the 15 Member States
and in the new Member States.

The report shows that between 1995 and 2000, gross domestic product (GDP) per head adjusted the
differences in purchasing in Mellersta Norrland fell relative to the rest of the Union from 108,6 % to
97,1 % of the Union average. For Sweden as a whole, the figure increased slightly over this period from
106,1 % to 106,6 % of the Union average.

This trend seems to be confirmed in the Swedish report ‘Regionernas tillstånd 2002’ prepared by the
Swedish Institute for Growth Policy Studies.

On the other hand, unemployment in the region is declining, falling from 11½ % in 1996 to 7 % in 2001.
This represents a reversal compared to the years preceding accession, when the rate increased markedly (cid:1)
from just under 4 % to 10 % between 1991 to 1995.

For the period after 2006 the Commission will make a proposal to the Parliament and Council for the
reform of European cohesion policy in the framework of the third report on economic and social cohesion
which will be published before the end of 2003.

(1) COM(2003) 34 final.

(2004/C 65 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0616/03

by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Directive on Tobacco Sponsorship and Advertising

(25 February 2003)

Will the Commission confirm that, in making the proposal for the Directive on Tobacco Sponsorship and
Advertising, it was not its intention to prevent the continued use of brand names originally used for non-
tobacco products, and still used in good faith for advertising or sponsoring non-tobacco products,
provided it is in a manner distinct from that used for tobacco products of the same names?