WRITTEN QUESTION P-2978/03 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Structural Funds in Brittany.
Date: 2003-10-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Brittany, France, Structural Funds, commitment of expenditure, financing policy, principle of additionality, relations between the State and the regions

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/183

In addition to the assessment of the effects on the ovalbumin sector of the measures decided, provided in
the answer, I should appreciate a reply to the following questions:

(cid:1) Is the Commission prepared to change the tariff classification of ovalbumin by reclassifying it under
agricultural products, thus placing it on the same footing as other egg products such as eggs in shell,
egg yolk and whole egg (CN Code 0408)?

(cid:1) If so, what timescale does it have in mind? If not, why not?

(1) See page 129.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2003)

The Commission considers that a change in the tariff classification of ovalbumin from CN Code 3502 to
CN Code 0408 by the Community alone would not be possible, as the present classification is based on
the Harmonized System Convention.

Moreover, the possibility to take up ovalbumin as a product covered by the common organisation of
market in the eggs sector could possibly be envisaged, but the Community could not grant any refunds
under its World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitment on eggs, because the position 35 02 ovalbumin is
not in the Annex to the EC-WTO export subsidies commitments under this product group.

(2004/C 70 E/192)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2978/03

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 October 2003)

Subject: Structural Funds in Brittany

Following the French Government’s recent budgetary decisions, Brittany will be hard hit by the withdrawal
of government funding, which is jeopardising the payment of EU appropriations. It would appear that part
of the Structural Funds allocated to Brittany for the period 2000-2006 will be blocked owing to the fact
that the French Government is no longer willing to disburse the amounts it had previously undertaken to
pay under the State-Region planning contract. This situation is giving particular cause for concern in the
Lorient area, which is already facing a serious economic crisis as a result of the Navy’s withdrawal and the
conversion of the arsenal, and in the Brest, Trégor and west central Brittany areas.

Given that the Commission has always taken pains to ensure strict observance of the additionality
principle, would it not agree that the decision to withdraw funding half-way through the period is in
breach of this principle, and that the government’s attitude is placing a region which is in need of strong
support from Europe in a position of extreme economic and financial uncertainty?

Does the Commission intend to ask the French Government for an explanation? If it has already done so,
what form did this action take?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(3 November 2003)

The financing plan in the single programming document for structural assistance in the Brittany region for
the period 2000-2006 provides for a contribution (national, regional or local) from the Member State of
EUR 583 902 092 towards the total eligible cost of EUR 1 400 926 184 (including private funding).
On 1 September 2003 the level of programming was 65 % of the total amount of the national public
matching funds laid down in the SPD.

C 70 E/184

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

The Commission has no information on any withdrawal of funding by France entailing a reduction in the
national public matching funding for the 2000-2006 SPD in Brittany.

A mid-term check of the Objective 2 programmes for compliance with the principle of additionality will
the French Objective 2 programmes together but not each individual
be carried out, covering all
programme. The French authorities must provide the Commission with the relevant information by
31 December 2003. Independently of these checks, France must inform the Commission in the course of
the programming period of any threat to its ability to maintain the level of expenditure laid down.

(2004/C 70 E/193)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2979/03

by Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm (ELDR) to the Commission

(9 October 2003)

Subject: Postal services in the European Union

The main purpose of European Parliament and Council Directive 97/67/EC (1) of 15 December 1997 on
common rules for the development of
the internal market of Community postal services and the
improvement of quality of service, as amended by European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/39/
EC (2) of 10 June 2002 with regard to the further opening to competition of Community postal services, is
to complete the internal market for postal services, while assuring the retention of universal service in
keeping with the conclusions of the Lisbon Summit.

Article 2(1) and Article 3(4) mean that periodical publications such as magazines, weighing up to
2 0kilogrammes, fall within the scope of the universal postal service.

In Spain, Law 24/1998 of 13 July on the Universal Postal Service and the Liberalisation of the Postal
Services, amended by Laws 50/1998 of 30 December and 53/2002 of 30 December, excludes from the
scope of the universal postal service periodical publications such as magazines of up to 2 kilogrammes, or
imposes unjustified additional requirements. In particular, they need to be packaged or presented in the
form of a letter or a postal package.

Does the Commission not believe that this Spanish legislation contradicts the European Directive, and
constitutes an obstacle to the universalisation of postal services in the European internal market?

(1) OJ L 15, 21.1.1998, p. 14.
(2) OJ L 176, 5.7.2002, p. 21.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2003)

As correctly stated by the Honourable Member, Directive 97/67/EC (1), requires in Article 3, in connection
with Article 2.6, that the universal postal service includes the conveyance of items such as newspapers and
periodicals within the prescribed minimum weight limits.

The Spanish legislation provides, in Article 15 of Law 24/1998 and Article 27 of Royal Decree 1829/1999,
that the conveyance of periodicals is included in the universal postal service under the form of a letter or
package.