WRITTEN QUESTION E-2816/03 by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission. Community initiatives.
Date: 2003-09-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU initiative, EU policy - national policy, economic and social cohesion

C 65 E/222

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

The Regulation must also be observed in the United Kingdom for cross-border payments in euro, although
pound-euro conversion costs may be charged on cross-border transfers in euro from and to the United
Kingdom. In this respect, if the currency has to be converted, then a transfer from Germany to the United
Kingdom will be more expensive than a national euro transfer. Under the Regulation, the bank is obliged
to inform its customers of these exchange charges.

In this specific case, it is not possible to establish from the information given in the Written Question
whether the provisions of the Regulation have been observed by the banks concerned. The Commission
would, however, be happy to accept and investigate any further information which Ms Jeggle or the citizen
concerned may provide (e.g. account statements, lists of charges). In addition, in disputes concerning cross-
border financial services the citizen concerned may turn to the dispute settlement bodies in the ‘FIN-NET’
network. These are out-of-court dispute settlement bodies which help citizens who have problems with
their
information on possible contacts can be found on the
Commission website at: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/de/finances/consumer/intro.htm).

financial services providers. Further

The Commission would, finally, like to point out that it will be compiling a report next year on the effects
of Regulation (EC) No 2560/2001, in which it will also look into the trend in national price levels for
payments.

The question as to whether a handling fee of £10 for transfers can be described as ‘daylight robbery’,

2.
is a matter for the law of the country concerned and cannot be answered by the Commission.

(1) OJ L 344, 28.12.2001.

(2004/C 65 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2816/03

by Joan Vallvé (ELDR) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Community initiatives

The Berlin European Council of March 1999 approved the economic resources for the Structural Funds
and the Community Initiatives for 2000-2006.

The Community Initiatives support European-scale policies on completing the Union. They are activities
which the Commission proposes to the Member States, with a view to resolving specific existing
programmes throughout Union territory. They supplement
the Community Support
Frameworks and the Single Programming Documents, which the Commission and the Member States
negotiated on the basis of regional or national development plans.

the work of

For 2000-2006, over which period the Commission wished to step up the European dimension of the
Community Initiatives, and likewise the way in which it complements priority objectives.

Four Community Initiatives are to be carried out, each one funded by one of the Structural Funds:

(cid:1) Interreg III: Cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation (ERDF);

(cid:1) Urban II: Regenerating urban areas in crisis (ERDF);

(cid:1) Leader+: Rural development (EAGGF Guidance);

(cid:1) Equal: Fighting discrimination and inequality relating to the labour market (ESF).

There is a danger that some of these Community Initiatives will be claimed by the Member States, on the
understanding that they are domestic policies.

What does the Commission think of the renationalisation of the Community Initiatives, and specifically,
Interreg III (cid:1) Chapter A, on cross-border cooperation?

13.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 65 E/223

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(23 October 2003)

The Commission will make proposals for cohesion policy for the period after 2006 in the Third Cohesion
Report which is scheduled for publication before the end of this year. While it is too early to speculate on
the nature of these proposals, they will take account of the contributions to the debate on future cohesion
policy that the Commission launched in January 2001 with the publication of the Second Cohesion
Report. The Parliament has been fully associated with this debate. The Commission’s proposals will also
include those regarding the future of the Community Initiatives, taking into account their added value in
relation to the interventions supported under the mainstream regional development programmes.

(2004/C 65 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2818/03

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Commitment and absorption of Cohesion Fund appropriations for Greece in 2003

Can the Commission provide information on the current situation as regards the commitment and
absorption of Cohesion Fund appropriations for Greece in 2003? Does the Commission consider the
situation to be satisfactory?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(21 October 2003)

The Commission can inform the Honourable Member that, as at 30 September 2003, commitments for
Greece in 2003 under the Cohesion Fund were EUR 167 million, to which a further EUR 29 million
currently being implemented can be added, plus an additional amount of around EUR 53 million for new
projects at the final examination stage.

The Commission has requested the Greek authorities to submit new applications for part-financing as
quickly as possible so that EUR 612 million, which is the indicative amount that Greece is supposed to
commit under the 2003 budget, can be committed. The Greek authorities have reconfirmed their intention
of submitting sufficient new applications very shortly to meet the EUR 612 million target.

(2004/C 65 E/238)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2820/03

by Geoffrey Van Orden (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 September 2003)

Subject: Separate registration numbers for trailers

The Netherlands have introduced a new law requiring each trailer (i.e. large trailer, small trailer, caravan,
etc.) to have its own separate and unique registration plate fixed in the usual place.

The UK is one of two EU Member States that does not have a separate registration system for trailers.

I understand that the Dutch authorities are to require UK hauliers to apply for a temporary Dutch
registration number called a ‘BO number’ in order to carry goods/cargo through the country.