WRITTEN QUESTION E-3144/03 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU funding for the Spanish National Hydrological Plan.
Date: 2003-10-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Spain, eligibility criteria, environmental impact, environmental law, environmental protection, hydrology

27.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/473

Applications received as a response to the calls for proposals are evaluated according to obligatory criteria:

(a)

scientific and technological excellence and the degree of innovation;

(b) ability to carry out the action successfully and ensure its efficient management;

(c)

relevance to the objectives of the specific programme;

(d) European added value, critical mass of resources mobilised and contribution to Community policies;

and

(e) quality of the plan for using and disseminating the knowledge, potential for promoting innovation and

clear plans for the management of intellectual property.

Participation in the Sixth Framework Programme is based on the principle of equal access and the
eligibility criteria as established in the rules for participation. Therefore, no quota system is applied, but the
evaluation and selection procedures are based on independent ‘peer review’ and ‘excellence’ irrespectively
of geographical origin or type of participant.

Research institutions, study centres, industry and SMEs are main target groups of the Sixth Framework
Programme. Practical rules for application and eligibility criteria are outlined in the calls for proposals and
are available at the Cordis website of the Sixth Framework Programme (http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/home.cfm).
Two further calls for proposals in the area of combating cancer will be launched in 2004-2005.

(1) Regulation (EC) No 2321/2002 of the Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 concerning the rules for
the participation of undertakings, research centres and universities in, and for the dissemination of research results
for, the implementation of the European Community Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006), OJ L 355,
30.12.2002.

(2004/C 78 E/0497)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3144/03

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: EU funding for the Spanish National Hydrological Plan

(23 October 2003)

Concerns have been expressed that the Spanish National Hydrological Plan will infringe the Habitats, Birds,
Environmental Impact Assessment and Water Framework Directives and cause widespread environmental
destruction in Spain.
the Spanish Government will seek to obtain around
EUR 8 billion in Structural and Cohesion funds to finance the project.

is understood that

It

Will the Commission ensure that no EU funds are allocated to this plan until its compliance with EU
environmental legislation has been assured?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 December 2003)

The Honourable Member is referred to the Commission’s answers to the following oral and written
questions: H-211/03 by Mr de Roo during question time at Parliament’s April 2003 session (1); H-810/02
by Mr Davies during question time at Parliament’s December 2002 session (2); H-678/02 by Mrs Sornosa
Martinez during question time at Parliament’s October 2002 session (3); H-452/02 by Mr Davies during
question time at Parliament’s June 2002 session (4); H-444/02 by Mr Marset Campos during question time
at Parliament’s June 2002 session (4); H-947/01 by Mr Mayol i Reynal during question time at Parliament’s
December 2001 session (5); H-561/01 by Mrs Sornosa Martinez during question time at Parliament’s July

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Official Journal of the European Union

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27.3.2004

2001 session (6); P-1610/03 by Mr Colom i Naval (7); E-1499/03 by Mr Mendiluce Pereiro (8); P-1171/03 by
Mr Davies (9); P-0689/03 by Mrs Gonzalez Alvarez (10); P-0653/03 by Mr Mayol i Raynal (10); P-0638/03 de
Mr Mendiluce Pereiro (10), E-0510/03 de Mr Colom I Naval (11), E-0509/03 de Mr Colom I Naval (12),
E-2819/02 de Mr Davies (13), E-2708/02 de Mr Davies (13), E-1334/02 de Mrs Sornosa Martinez (14), E-
0997/02 de Mr de Roo (14), E-0638/02 de Mr Mayol I Raynal (14), E-3205/01 de Mr de Roo (15), P-2918/01
de Mr Pittella (16), E-2614/01 de Mrs Sornosa Martinez (16), E-2568/01 de Mr Corbett (17), E-2288/01 de
Mr de Roo (17), P-1231/01 de Mrs Sornosa Martinez (18), E-811/01 by Mrs Sornosa Martinez (19), E-0645/01
by Mr de Roo (19), E-0004/01 by Mr de Roo (20) and E-0003/01 by Mr de Roo (21).

The Commission will analyse carefully any request submitted by the Spanish authorities for financing of
projects included in the Spanish National Hydrological Plan and the approval of such projects will be
subject to their strict compliance with all applicable Community legislation and policies, including those
relating to the environment.

(1) Oral reply, 8.4.2003.
(2) Written reply, 17.12.2002.
(3) Written reply, 22.10.2002.
(4) Written reply, 11.6.2002.
(5) Written reply, 11.12.2001.
(6) Written reply, 3.7.2001.
(7) OJ C 70 E, 20.3.2004, p. 52.
(8) OJ C 280 E, 21.11.2003, p. 157.
(9) OJ C 11 E, 15.1.2004, p. 162.
(10) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 160.
(11) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 141.
(12) OJ C 242 E, 9.10.2003, p. 140.
(13) OJ C 92 E, 17.4.2003.
(14) OJ C 277 E, 14.11.2002.
(15) OJ C 147 E, 20.6.2002.
(16) OJ C 134 E, 6.6.2002.
(17) OJ C 93 E, 18.4.2002.
(18) OJ C 318 E, 13.11.2001.
(19) OJ C 340 E, 4.12.2001.
(20) OJ C 235 E, 21.8.2001.
(21) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001.

(2004/C 78 E/0498)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3145/03

by W.G. van Velzen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 October 2003)

Subject: Batteries in exploding mobile phones

Is the Commission aware of incidents in which the batteries of mobile phones being used by

1.
individuals have exploded and, in some instances, even caused (serious) bodily injury?

2.
If so, does the Commission also know whether the batteries involved were supplied by the mobile
phone manufacturer? If not, will the Commission seek immediate information about these incidents which,
after all, demonstrate that the safety and health of European citizens is at risk?

Is the Commission intending to carry out an investigation into the cause of these explosions,

3.
including finding out where the batteries came from and the circumstances in which they exploded?

4. What measures can the Commission take in connection with the incidents referred to above with
regard, inter alia, to:

(cid:1) better consumer protection;

(cid:1) better information and warnings from the authorities and from manufacturers;

(cid:1) more research into battery safety;

(cid:1) better safety provisions and standardisation;

(cid:1) action to counter piracy and counterfeiting?