WRITTEN QUESTION E-2739/03 by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission. Leader+: pre-financing by promoters.
Date: 2003-09-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Structural Funds, action programme, financing, invoicing, payment, redemption, rural development, structural expenditure

C 78 E/160

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2003)

The Commission is aware of reports of large amounts of discarding of small anglerfish (also called
monkfish) in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Division VII (South-West
Cornwall). This appears to be due to a higher than expected abundance of small anglerfish on the fishing
grounds, in an area where a mixed fishery with megrims and sole is pursued.

It is clearly important to avoid waste caused by killing and discarding many small fish. However, allowing
more fishing of these small fish is not a solution by itself, since many of these fish are too small to be
marketed and the fish which are killed will not have a chance to grow and produce higher yields for the
long term. It is also necessary to moderate fishing effort so that healthy adult stocks are maintained.

The Commission services requested additional scientific advice from ICES on this matter on 28 August
2003. ICES’ revised advice is that the sum of the total allowable catches (TACs) for areas VII and VIII a, b,
d, e could be increased from 19 372 tonnes (t) to 21 000 t for 2003, if this can be implemented without
increased targeting of small anglerfish and without increased effort.

Based on this advice, the Commission services are preparing for the consideration of the Commission a
proposal to increase the TACs for Division VII from 15 810 t to 17 138 t and for Sub-Divisions VIIIabde
from 3 562 t to 3 862 t. The increase is allocated to two TACs because biological advice indicates that the
stocks concerned are distributed in both areas. The Commission services are also keeping under review
complementary measures that would avoid increased targeting of small anglerfish and also avoid increases
in effort.

These proposals will be prepared for a decision at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 17 and
18 November.

(2004/C 78 E/0164)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2739/03

by Bernd Lange (PSE) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Leader+: pre-financing by promoters

Under the Leader+ programme, proof of the completed implementation of the intended measures must be
provided following the project’s approval. This includes producing receipted invoices, meaning that the
promoters must settle the bill before being reimbursed and must therefore be able to pre-finance their own
measures. For financially weak promoters, however, this is often not possible.

Is the Commission aware of this problem?

Is it possible for promoters who are not able to provide upfront funding for their measures to be exempt
from the requirement to produce receipted invoices?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(7 October 2003)

The Commission knows about and regrets the difficulties spoken of by the Honourable Member that
recipients of assistance under the Leader+ programme may encounter. The rule of reimbursing only
expenditure actually incurred is, however, a common one for all payments from the four Community
Structural Funds, including the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund Guidance Section,
and applies to all types of programme. It is a matter of compliance with Article 32(1) third subparagraph

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/161

of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the
Structural Funds (1), which states that ‘interim payments and payments of the balance shall relate to
expenditure actually paid out, which must correspond to payments effected by the final beneficiaries,
supported by receipted invoices or accounting documents of equivalent probative value.’ There is no
provision for any exception to this rule.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 78 E/0165)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2745/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(11 September 2003)

Subject: Environmental impact of the enlargement of Eivissa airport

In Question E-0209/03 (1) of 21 January 2003 on the environmental impact of carrying out the scheme to
enlarge Eivissa airport, I observed that this scheme would … affect the special protection zone of the Ses
Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera natural park (Law 17/2001 of the Parlament de les Illes Balears).

Specifically, this would directly impact on the entire protected area,
including major socio-economic
impact from new occupation of lands and of privately owned houses, increased noise and air pollution
affecting the dune systems of the Es Codolar area, which are registered as a predominantly conservation
area, and impact on the landscape. Furthermore, the area is a Special Protection Area for Birds, under the
Birds Directive 79/409/EEC (2).

Secondly, the enlargement of the boundaries of the airport’s service area would mean directly occupying
and remodelling land which lies within the boundaries of the natural park. The portion occupied is part of
the extreme south-west of the dune system of the Es Codolar area, a zone registered as a conservation area,
and protected by the EEC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC (3)) as an ecosystem of Community interest.
Furthermore, the enlargement involves a whole range of spatial planning changes in other areas bordering
on the Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera natural park and therefore once again impacting thereon.

Six months ago,
complaint lodged in connection with the airport enlargement.

in its answer of 14 March 2003, the Commission stated that it was investigating a

Has the Commission reached any solid conclusions as a result of the complaint lodged?

(1) OJ C 222 E, 18.9.2003, p. 163.
(2) OJ L 103, 25.4.1979, p. 1.
(3) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2003)

As it stated in its answer to Written Question E-0209/03 from the Honourable Member, the Commission
is currently investigating a complaint about the enlargement of Ibiza airport.

As part of its investigation of this complaint, the Commission has asked the Spanish authorities for full
information about the project in question and for a copy of the project impact assessment carried out and
the measures taken to comply with the obligations arising from Article 6 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC
of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna (1).