WRITTEN QUESTION E-1774/03 by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Council. Repatriation of the Structural Funds.
Date: 2003-05-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Structural Funds, development plan, division of powers, management audit, project management, regional aid

C 51 E/140

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

26.2.2004

Consequently, the ratification of this Protocol by EU Member States alone in line with Member States
undertakings as noted by both the Council (December 2002) and the European Council (March 2003)
would already allow for this instrument to take effect.

This new supplementary fund will help to ensure the full and expeditious payment of victims of future oil
spills on a global scale.

(2004/C 51 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1772/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Council

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Thessaloniki June Council meeting

Will the Council please give its view of the agenda of the June Council meeting in Thessaloniki? Will the
meeting discuss the question of EU border police, policing resources for the new EU external borders post-
enlargement, coordination of integration issues in relation to migrants, and the issue of coordination of
managed economic migration?

Reply

(2 October 2003)

The Council would refer the Honourable Member to the debate which took place at the plenary part-
session in Strasbourg on Wednesday 4 June 2003, during which the Council Presidency set out the agenda
for the European Council meeting in Thessaloniki on 20 and 21 June 2003.

It would also refer the Honourable Member to the conclusions of the Seville European Council, and in
particular Annex II, detailing the Council’s role in preparing for the European Council (point A.2(a)).

(2004/C 51 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1774/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Council

(28 May 2003)

Subject: Repatriation of the Structural Funds

How does the Council view the issue of repatriation of Structural Funds, i.e. Member States deciding to
some degree on their own regional allocation of the Structural Funds?

Reply

(7 October 2003)

The Council would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to the fact that, pursuant to Council
Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 (1) of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural
Funds, the administration of those funds is the shared responsibility of the European Commission and the
Member States’ governments working in close cooperation.

Accordingly, the Commission negotiates and approves development programmes proposed by the Member
States and allocates the appropriations. These programmes are the result of the joint efforts of the national,
regional and local authorities, the economic and social partners and other competent bodies.

26.2.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 51 E/141

The Member States and their regions must then administer the programmes and implement them by
selecting projects, which they monitor and evaluate. For its part, the Commission participates in the
follow-up of programmes and contributes to the work of the monitoring committees, it determines the
commitment appropriations, makes payments to reimburse expenditure actually incurred and certified and
verifies the control systems in place.

Given the legal framework in force therefore, the Member States themselves may not decide on their own
regional allocation of the structural funds.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 51 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1789/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(28 May 2003)

Subject:

‘Fuel poverty’

‘Fuel poverty’ is the inability of citizens to afford adequate heating and light because of energy pricing
policies and low incomes.

Does the Commission have a view, or has it undertaken any research on the issue of ‘fuel poverty’ in EU
countries?

Is the Commission aware that multinational companies like Electricité de France have different pricing
policies, and different policies on disconnection following non-payment of electricity bills in the cities of
London and Paris, for example?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(2 July 2003)

For the Commission the question of fuel poverty enters into the bigger debate of public service aspects
under energy policy. The Commission in its proposals amending the Electricity and Gas Directives (1) has
substantially strenghtened the public service aspects of the existing Directives to ensure that vulnerable
customers will be sufficiently protected in a market that will be completely open to competition. Thus, the
Electricity Directive obliges Member States to ensure that all consumers have the right to be supplied with
electricity. In both the Electricity and Gas Directives a provision is contained obliging Member States to
protect final customers and to ensure in particular that there are adequate safeguards to protect vulnerable
customers, including measures to help them avoid disconnection. It is up to Member States to implement
this provision in a way that suits their particular situation best.

As already mentioned, the policies concerning the non-payment of electricity bills are relevant of the
national authorities. Each Member State implements its own rules to protect the vulnerable consumers in
case of disconnection following non-payment of electricity bills. Multinational companies have to comply
with each national
legislation; these legislations are each different, which requires for a multinational
company different policies on pricing and disconnection following non-payment of bills.

(1) OJ C 240 E, 28.8.2001.