WRITTEN QUESTION E-1387/03 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Possibility of funding zootechnology projects in eastern Europe.
Date: 2003-04-15
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU programme, Italy, aid system, livestock farming, poultry, pre-accession strategy, type of business, zootechnics

C 58 E/64

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2004

The Commission is investigating the various issues raised by the original complaint. Additionally, on
2.
21 January 2003 the Commission has received a formal notification from the Swedish Government of
proposed state measures also concerning the housing market in Sweden. To ensure a consistent and
coherent approach in the assessment of the two cases in question the Commission is now investigating
them in parallel; to enable the Commission to move forward on this basis it has requested additional
information from the Swedish Government concerning the notification.

The Commission has not arrived at a definitive conclusion yet. It expects to do it after it will have

3.
received all the information necessary for a final decision.

(2004/C 58 E/082)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1387/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Possibility of funding zootechnology projects in eastern Europe

The Italian company Nuova Cizo s.r.l. has been operating for some years in the zootechnology sector on
the planning, construction, installation and marketing of metal structures, automatic equipment, fodder
storage silos and various kinds of plant engineering.

The company has developed extensive technical capacity for innovation and is increasingly asked to
undertake comprehensive projects entailing supply of breeding structures, automatic facilities and the
relevant technological plant, including a project for producing organic chickens that is unique in Europe.

It is currently developing two innovative projects for closed-cycle poultry breeding, covering all phases of
production from egg to adult bird, including processing, meat-packing and distribution of the finished
product on local markets.

These projects are attracting the interest of some eastern European countries soon to join the European
Union, as well as others, including Albania in particular, which could enter into cooperation with a view
to developing similar production cycles in their own countries.

In the light of the above, will the Commission say:

1. whether EU funds are available to finance projects of the kind described above in the countries of

eastern Europe?

2. what procedures would the company Nuova Cizo and its partners have to follow to obtain such

funding?

Answer given on behalf of the Commission by Franz Fischler

(3 June 2003)

1.
Regarding agriculture and rural development, the acceding countries of central and eastern Europe
benefit from the pre-accession Sapard programme set up under Council Regulation 1268/1999 of 21 June
1999 (1).

The way it works: the countries each draw up a programme to be approved by the Commission, then see
to its implementation subject to a Commission decision empowering them to so do. The measures eligible
for co-financing include investments in agricultural holdings and in the processing and marketing of
agricultural products. The public contribution may not exceed 50 % of the total, while Community
expenditure may not exceed 75 % of the public aid.

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/65

All the countries in question included both the above types of measure in their Sapards, and received

2.
Commission approval of their management of the same.

The details of implementation of each measure (scope, type of investment and expenditure, maximum
amount eligible, etc.) are specified in each programme.

The companies in question are therefore advised to consult these programmes on the web site of the
Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture (http://europa.eu.int/comm/agriculture/external/enlarge/
countries/index_en.htm); they will find for each country a description of the measures concerned and the
coordinates of the body in charge of implementing them, to which latter they should apply for the details
of implementation of each programme (timetable, etc.). They should note, however, that the relevant
funding applications have to be submitted by the project beneficiaries.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 58 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1454/03

by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(29 April 2003)

Subject: Euratom/other international financial institutions/public accountability requirements

1.

Other international financial institutions

Can you supply details of the nuclear lending policies of international financial institutions such as World
Bank, European Investment Bank, Nordic Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Latin American
Development Bank and African Development Bank?

2.

Public accountability requirements

Are there public involvement requirements for the granting of Euratom loans, for example

(a) Must

the loan recipients

require a full public participation process including conformity to

international agreements such as the Espoo Convention?

(b) Are the loan recipients required to publish the full environmental impact assessment?

(c)

Is Parliamentary approval in the recipient State required before granting the loan?

(d) Are competitive tenders required for the proposed construction work for the tender, if not, why not?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(26 June 2003)

As far as the Commission is aware, only the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
1.
(EBRD) among International Financial Institutions is presently pursuing an active lending policy from its
ordinary resources on completion and upgrade of nuclear plants.

Main conditions include:

(cid:1) a direct link with the closure of high-risk reactors operating in the country concerned;

(cid:1) the respect of the same least-cost criteria, financial viability and environmental standards, as non-

nuclear projects;