WRITTEN QUESTION E-2120/03 by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission. Development of renewable energy sources in Moldova.
Date: 2003-06-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Bulgaria, EIB loan, EU aid, EU programme, Moldova, Romania, energy production, renewable energy

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/79

with special needs in the European Union. What action has the Commission taken in response to this call
and when will it be in a position, if it has not already done so, to release this study?

(1) OJ C 140 E, 13.6.2002, p. 589.

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2003)

The Commission pays great attention to the various approaches to teaching for pupils with special needs.
Already in 1998, the European Agency for Special Needs Education carried out a study, co-financed by the
Commission, on ‘Integration in Europe, Provision for Pupils with Special Educational Needs’. This study
focussed on trends in 14 European countries. An update is currently being prepared.

With regard to the parliamentary resolution in question, the Commission co-financed a report on ‘Special
in 2003, carried out and published by the Agency in co-operation with
Needs Education in Europe’
Eurydice (Information Network on Education in Europe). The electronic version is already available in
French and in English on the website of the Agency at the following address: www.european-agency.org.
The study, which covers 26 European countries, is being translated into eleven other languages.

It examines current practice across Europe in five key areas:

(cid:1) inclusive education policies and practices;

(cid:1) funding of special needs education;

(cid:1) teachers and special needs education;

(cid:1) information and communication Technology in Special Needs Education;

(cid:1) and early intervention.

The Commission intends to continue monitoring developments in the field of special needs education on a
regular basis.

(2004/C 78 E/0078)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2120/03

by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Development of renewable energy sources in Moldova

(25 June 2003)

1.
Can the Commission inform us of the various types of aid, measures, programmes and/or budget
lines that can be used to promote the development of renewable energy sources, particularly wind energy,
in Moldova, bearing in mind that the country depends on oil and gas imports for 99 % of its energy
supplies?

Can the Commission also tell us what facilities are offered by the EIB to promote this type of energy

2.
in Moldova, as well as in Romania and Bulgaria?

3.
Does the Commission take the view that the last two countries, which are in line for EU membership
in 2007, should internalise the objective of the European directive whereby by 2010 12 % of the energy
used in Europe will be from renewable sources?

C 78 E/80

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

The main programme for providing financial assistance to Moldova is Tacis. This programme offers
technical assistance on the basis of shared values and priorities agreed with the partner countries
concerned. Currently, Tacis is not engaged in activities directed to support the development of renewable
energy resources in Moldova, since they have not been identified among national priorities.

Tacis is, however, engaged in the development of the energy market and resources through the Inogate
regional programme, whose activities cover Moldova.

In addition, Moldova is an observer in the dialogue on Regional Electricity Market in South East Europe
that is organised by the Commission. This provides a forum in which Moldova can learn from the
experience of other countries on how to ensure balanced approach to energy production.

Finally, the multi-annual programme Intelligent Energy for Europe (IEE), covering the period 2003-2006, is
open to Candidate Countries and includes also a domain, called Coopener, which is devoted to co-
operation with third countries. At present, however, a final decision has yet to be made regarding possible
beneficiary countries.

European Investment Bank (EIB) loans and projects are not open to Moldova. However, in Moldova this
type of activity could be financed through European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
loans. Bulgaria and Romania do benefit from EIB loans under the general lending mandate for Central and
Eastern European countries, guaranteed by the Community budget, and under the three-year Pre-Accession
Facility, which is not covered by the Community guarantee. The EIB is interested in increasing support for
investments in renewable energy, including wind energy. Its aim is to at least double its loan volume
(individual and dedicated global loans) for renewable energy between 2002 and 2007.

The objective of achieving a 12 % contribution from renewable energy sources to overall energy
consumption in the Union was included in Commission White Paper from 1997 (1). The Directive 2001/
77/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 27 September 2001 on the promotion of electricity
produced from renewable energy sources in the internal electricity market (2) is part of the ‘acquis’ to be
implemented by Romania and Bulgaria before accession. Both countries have been regularly encouraged to
enhance the use of renewable energy and to define national indicative targets, consistent with the global
indicative target of 12 % of gross national energy consumption by 2010.

(1) COM(97) 599 final.
(2) OJ L 283, 27.10.2001.

(2004/C 78 E/0079)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2127/03

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(25 June 2003)

Subject: Guarantees as to the correctness of businesses’ financial information

The Flemish newspaper De Standaard reported on 13 June 2003 that a majority (three quarters) of
financial directors have doubts about the accuracy and quality of the available financial
information
concerning their business. These findings come from a study by a French business specialising in financial
reporting software and are based on information supplied by 150 financial directors of large international
companies.