WRITTEN QUESTION E-2550/03 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Capital funding for community arts initiative.
Date: 2003-08-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, action programme, capital goods, social integration, welfare

C 58 E/178

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.3.2004

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(12 September 2003)

The Commission has examined the compatibility of mussel fishing activities in the Wadden Sea and in the
estuary of the River Ems, Lower Saxony, with Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation
of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (‘Habitats Directive’) on various occasions.

Cases 2001/4472 and 2001/4582 concerned mussel fishing activities in the protected site of Community
interest (pSCI) ‘Hund und Paapsand’ (DE 2507/301). Both cases were closed on 16 October 2002, since the
Commission did not see a violation of the Habitats Directive or of any other Community law.

According to information from the German Government, there had only been a single permit for mussel
fishing in the pSCI ‘Hund und Paapsand’ (DE 2507-301). Before the permit had been issued, an impact
assessment according to Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive had been carried out. The latter had
concluded that significant negative effects of the fishing activities on the pSCI were not to be expected.
This had also been the experience from past mussel fishing activities in the area.

The Commission shared the view of the German Government and consequently found that Article 6(3) of
the Habitats Directive had not been violated. Since the Commission did not see a violation of other
Community law, either, the cases were closed.

(2004/C 58 E/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2550/03

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Capital funding for community arts initiative

Can the Commission advise of any available sources of EU funding for a community arts group that
promotes racial awareness, social inclusion and employment of the marginal or long-term unemployed and
develops the skills of young people?

The funding required is for capital equipment to bring facilities up to basic health and safety standards.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 September 2003)

The Honourable Member will be aware that the Commission works closely with the Member States to
eliminate discrimination and promote employment of all groups, particularly those at risk of exclusion.

In the context of the open method of coordination, the Community Action Programme to Combat Social
Exclusion 2002-2006 is meant to support cooperation which enables the Community and the Member
States to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of policies to combat social exclusion by:

1.

improving the understanding of social exclusion and poverty with the help in particular of comparable
indicators;

2. organising exchanges on policies which are implemented and promoting mutual

learning in the

context of national action plans;

3.

developing the capacity of actors to address social exclusion and poverty effectively, and to promote
innovative approaches.

6.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 58 E/179

Further, under the EQUAL Community initiative, financial support is granted to Development Partnerships
which bring together key actors committed to developing and testing new ways of delivering employment
and social inclusion policies. Member States are responsible for providing funding according to European
Social Fund rules and procedures. Funding of capital equipment is, exceptionally, eligible under EQUAL,
provided it is directly linked and necessary for the success of a Development Partnership, and only
constitutes a minor part of the total expenditure.

However, providing financial support mainly for upgrading capital equipment and facilities would not be
possible either under the Community Action Programme to combat social exclusion or under EQUAL.

Further information on the operation of these, and other programmes, can be found on the web site
(http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/).

(2004/C 58 E/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2561/03

by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission

(4 August 2003)

Subject: Refurbishment of the Berlaymont building

On 28 April this year the judge Patrick Collignon of the Brussels public prosecutor’s office started an
investigation against unknown persons for financial irregularities involved in the refurbishment of the
Berlaymont building, which was the headquarters of the European Commission until 1991.

The Brussels judiciary launched the inquiry after receiving a dossier from Olaf, the EU anti-fraud office,
which has in turn opened an inquiry into two contracts which apparently did not comply with legislation
governing public contracts. The restructuring of the historic building has gone on for years, with soaring
costs and substantial delays in the project schedule.

Can the Commission say:

(cid:1) whether it has any information about the inquiry by the Brussels public prosecutor’s office;

(cid:1) what steps it will take to safeguard the Union’s financial interests;

(cid:1) whether the contracts with the companies involved in the refurbishment envisaged a penalty in the
event of delays in delivery and, if so, who was supposed to question any infringement and how many
and what kind of disputes there have been and what the outcome was?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(7 October 2003)

On 13 November 2002, after prolonged negotiations, the Commission signed an agreement with the
Belgian Government and SA Berlaymont 2000 which set out the main points of the acquisition by the
Community of the Berlaymont building and the land surrounding it.

That agreement has a price ceiling and specified completion dates. It therefore includes the single amount,
including all costs, which the Community must pay to secure the long-term lease of the fully renovated
building and the dates when the basic building will become available and for provisional acceptance of the
works not included therein. It also specifies the penalties which the Community will apply if the Belgian
Government and SA Berlaymont 2000 fail to meet these deadlines.

The agreement includes the specific guarantees provided by the Belgian Government and SA Berlaymont
2000 to protect the Community’s financial
interests in the event of suspected fraud in the award of
contracts for works, supplies and services or during their implementation.