WRITTEN QUESTION E-1412/03 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE)and Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Implementation of Interreg programme in Albania.
Date: 2003-04-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, EU programme, cross-border cooperation, ethnic group, frontier region, population census

C 11 E/180

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

At the beginning of this year, the four Round Tables of the Forum have been launched. They are working
on the following issues: improving knowledge on CSR; promoting CSR amongst small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs); the development aspects of CSR and transparency, diversity and convergence of CSR
practices and tools.

The Forum has a clear mandate: before summer 2004 it is invited to submit a report about its work to the
Commission.

(1)

In 2002 two plenary meetings took place, while for 2003 two plenary meetings and nine Round Table meetings are
foreseen.

(2) Usually French, English and German for the plenary meetings and French & English for the Round Tables.
(3) Plus a Rapporteur for the Round Table meetings.

(2004/C 11 E/205)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1412/03

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE)
and Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(23 April 2003)

Subject: Implementation of Interreg programme in Albania

Representatives of the Greek ethnic minority in southern Albania and Mr Karamelos, a Member of the
Albanian Parliament, claimed in a recent press conference at the European Parliament (2 April 2003), that
only 30 % of the funding under the Community’s Interreg II programme for measures on both sides of the
Greek-Albanian border has been utilised, while Interreg III (which was set up for the period 2000-2006)
has not yet begun. Consequently, no support has been received from Community sources for projects and
initiatives to improve the position of the internationally recognised Greek minority in southern Albania.
The Greek minority suffered persecution at the hands of the tyrannical totalitarian regime of Enver Hoxha
for decades and still does not enjoy the fundamental democratic rights that are its due, as the EU
institutions have repeatedly pointed out. During their visit to Parliament, these same representatives
stressed that, twelve years after the collapse of the above regime, no census has been taken of the Greek
population of Albania as a whole in accordance with practices in all well-governed European countries.

Are these claims concerning the implementation of Interreg II and III correct? If so, what is the reason for
this delay, which is having an impact on the quality of life of thousands of Greeks and Albanians living in
southern Albania? How does the Commission intend to exert pressure on Albania to carry out a credible
census of the Albanian population, along European lines, in order to determine the size of the Greek and
other minorities (gypsies, Roma, Slavs, etc.) living in that country?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(13 June 2003)

Albania as a whole has benefited since 1991 from Community support through PHARE, CARDS and other
Community assistance programmes. The largest of these programmes is CARDS. The CARDS programme
can be used, among other things, for cross-border projects, supporting expenditure on the Albanian side of
the border matching that on the Greek side supported by Interreg. In accordance with the Country
Strategy Paper for Albania, the priorities are the environment, integrated border management and local
community development.

The Interreg II programme for Greece contained a number of sub-programmes including one for co-
operation with Albania. According to information received from the authorities in Greece, 97 of the funds
available for this sub-programme were committed and paid, which suggests that implementation has been
very satisfactory.

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/181

The implementation of the Interreg IIIA programme, Greece-Albania, began in December 2002 and will
continue until 2008. The Commission will receive first results concerning progress in the second half of
2003 on the occasion of the next Monitoring Committee meeting.

In the light of the forthcoming negotiation of a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the
European Union, the Albanian authorities have undertaken to provide the Commission with accurate data
on the size of its minorities by the end of 2003 at the latest. Failure by Albania to respect its commitments
in this regard would have an adverse impact on the SAA negotiating process. It could also undermine the
country’s stated ambition to become a Member State of the Union.

(2004/C 11 E/206)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1422/03

by Brian Crowley (UEN) to the Commission

(15 April 2003)

Subject: Research and young people

According to the Commission’s 2002 annual report on technological research and development in 2001, a
significant improvement in the success rate of project proposals has been recorded but SMEs accounted for
less than a quarter of participants in the four thematic programmes.

Will the Commission advise how many of these project proposals are likely to lead to new products
actually reaching the market place, what are the related job prospects of
this research and the
representation of women in this research, and does the Commission consider that the programme has a
role to play in attracting the interest of young researchers and potential researchers in schools and third
level colleges and will it make a statement on the matter?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(19 May 2003)

Most of the research actions as referred to in the question are ongoing and a comprehensive evaluation of
their impacts,
including new products and job prospects, will be undertaken when the projects are
completed. An impact survey of research projects under the 4th Framework Programme (1994-1998) is in
progress.

At the outset, Community research proposals are rigorously evaluated by peer review against predefined
criteria which for the 5th Framework Programme (1998-2002) include inter alia ‘the development of
applications markets’, and ‘contribution to improving employment prospects’ (http://www.cordis.lu/FP5/
src/evalman.htm). Furthermore, the impact of the research projects under the 5th Framework Programme
is promoted through the mandatory Technological Implementation Plans (TIP), which provide ex ante and
ex post information on inter alia ‘product and process innovations’ and ‘improved employment’. The
CORDIS databases include information on TIPs (http://etip.cordis.lu) and on research results (http://
www.cordis.lu/en/src/d_012_en.htm). For research under the 6th Framework Programme (2002-2006),
even more emphasis has been given to impact through the new instruments, promoting larger projects,
focusing on carefully selected research areas and technologies of relevance to industry and society.
Particular efforts are made to involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Gender issues are fully taken into account under the 6th Framework Programme,
including in the
evaluation process. Collection of statistics on women’s participation will be made under this programme
although such data is not available systematically for all 5th Framework Programme research projects. In
1999, the Commission set the target of 40 % female participation in proposal evaluation panels, advisory
groups and monitoring panels as well as in Marie Curie Fellowships. A wide range of activities promoting
female participation are supported under the Science and Society action line of the 6th Framework
Programme, including promotion of women researchers in the private sector.