WRITTEN QUESTION E-2771/03 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission. European Project Funding for Enable project.
Date: 2003-09-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: coordination of financing, financial management, fund (EU), loss

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/423

Under the ROP, which was approved by Commission No C(2000)2349 of 8 August 2000, the Apulia
Region plans, in the framework of measure 1.7, to carry out activities for the forestation and reforestation
of woodland for environmental purposes in particular. The measure covers the entire regional territory,
but gives priority to the SCI and SPA areas and other protected areas. For this programme, foresters and
other aid recipients in Alta Murgia may also submit reforestation projects in response to the invitations for
tender issued by the Region. EAGGF co-funding of EUR 31 million is scheduled for this measure.

With regard to the Community initiative Leader+ programme for the period 2000-2006, which was
approved by Commission Decision No C(2002)171 of 29 January 2002, no specific EAGGF Guidance
Section funding is planned for forestation in the Apulia Region.

is the responsibility of

The Commission has approved the above programmes after verifying that they conform with the relevant
Community provisions. Local management
the most
appropriate geographical level. The programmes must be implemented by the competent national and/or
regional authorities, which must in particular ensure that projects are selected from among those proposed
by potential recipients which fulfil the eligibility requirements and apply for support. The Commission is
kept informed, in the framework of the partnership, about the detailed arrangements for using the funds
by means of programme implementation reports and by Monitoring Committees in which the Member
States participate. The information, which is in the form of financial and physical monitoring indicators,
and the assessment factors do not concern specific areas such as the Alta Murgia or individual cases in
which support is given, since in conformity with the principle of subsidiarity the Commission is not
competent to express an opinion on them.

the Member States, at

The Commission would therefore ask the Honourable Member to contact the Apulia Region Assessorato
all’Agricoltura for information about funding for reforestation in the specific area of Alta Murgia in the
framework of the above programmes.

2.
Under the current LIFE III Programme, projects are the responsibility of individual beneficiaries and
not of a region. It is not possible to freeze funding to all beneficiaries in a region indiscriminately. Funding
can only be revoked where a beneficiary is in infringement of Community rules. The Apulia Region is not
a current LIFE beneficiary: however, infringement of Community rules in the Region could be taken into
account if the Region itself were to propose a LIFE project in the 2004 round. This is the last round of the
LIFE III Programme, which expires on 31 December 2004.

3.
The Commission has registered a complaint on the issues raised by the Honourable Member for poor
application of Directives 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds and 92/43/EEC (1) on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. This complaint is under assessment.

The information given by the Honourable Member has been added to the above- mentioned complaint file.

Should the Commission come to the conclusion that Community law is being breached in the specific
case, it will not hesitate, as the Guardian of the Treaty, to take all necessary measures, including opening
infringement procedures under Article 226 of the EC Treaty,
in order to ensure compliance with the
relevant Community law.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2004/C 78 E/0443)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2771/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 September 2003)

Subject: European Project Funding for Enable project

A representative of Dementia Voice, a partner in the Enable project, funded by the EC has expressed
concern about the deficits they have incurred as a result of not yet receiving the balance of their European

C 78 E/424

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

funding. Despite submitting all their paperwork by the deadline in June this year, they have been informed
by the Commission that their project has not yet been processed and they will have to wait until the
autumn. They are now in a deficit on this project of about GBP 8 000 which will be reflected in their
annual accounts and may have a detrimental effect on applications for other funding.

What plans does the Commission have to improve deficit funding arrangements which are currently
making it difficult for small but innovative projects and organisations to manage?

Answer given by Mr Busquin on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2003)

As far as the Project under consideration is concerned, the payment corresponding to the eligible costs has
been made to the project co-ordinator in charge.

The Commission is constantly striving to improve its performance. Within this context and taking into
account the strengthened controls put in place in the context of the Reform and the new financial circuits,
the Commission is taking substantial measures in order to ensure efficient payment of projects, both in
terms of human resources (the services are steadily fulfilling all vacant posts regarding financial
management and payments: out of 16 vacant posts, only one still remains vacant) and in terms of
rationalisation of the financial management (some measures implemented: on the job intensive training, in
addition to the standard requirements; strict implementation of deadlines, both internal and external,
i.e. deadlines given to co-ordinators).

(2004/C 78 E/0444)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2772/03

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(16 September 2003)

Subject: Levels of professional indemnity cover for small insurance firms

Is the Commission planning to instigate any European lower limits regarding professional
indemnity
cover? One of my constituents is concerned about the level of EUR 1 million cover he has to pay as a
small insurance firm.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2003)

The Honourable Member is most likely referring to Directive 2002/92/EC of the Parliament and of the
Council of 9 December 2002 on insurance mediation (1). This Directive will establish a legal regime, which
ensures a high level of professionalism for insurance intermediaries and reinforces the information
requirements to be provided to customers. Customers will therefore be better protected.

The Directive requires that any insurance intermediary shall be registered with a competent authority in
his home Member State, provided that he meets strict professional requirements in relation to his
professional competence, good repute, professional indemnity cover and, where the insurance intermediary
manages funds of his clients, appropriate financial capacity.

The Directive requires that an insurance intermediary shall hold professional indemnity insurance covering
the whole territory of the Community or some other comparable guarantee against liability arising from
professional negligence, for at least EUR 1 million applying to each claim and in aggregate EUR 1,5 million
per year for all claims. This insurance cover or financial guarantee is not required when an insurance
undertaking, a reinsurance undertaking or another undertaking on whose behalf
the insurance or
reinsurance intermediary is acting, takes the full responsibility for the intermediary’s actions (in accordance
with Article 4 (3) of the Directive).