WRITTEN QUESTION P-3403/03 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding for European Carrefour.
Date: 2003-11-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, administrative expenditure, budget, dissemination of EU information, information network, information policy, support policy

C 70 E/196

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

The withdrawal of subsidies manifestly conflicts with the new information strategy adopted in 2002.
The Commission seems to take the view that the entry into force of the new Financial Regulation on
1 January 2003 is a sufficient condition for this withdrawal.

What financial support systems does the Commission propose to introduce?

Are any other measures planned to enable these bodies to operate?

(2004/C 70 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3389/03

by John Hume (PSE) to the Commission

(10 November 2003)

Subject: European Carrefours

Can the Commission explain why the Directorate-General for Press and Communication has announced
the sudden termination of operating grants to the 138 members of the European Carrefour Network?
Will it reconsider the decision and ensure that funding continues into 2004?

(2004/C 70 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3403/03

by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 November 2003)

Subject: Funding for European Carrefour

I understand that DG Press and Communications has recently decided to cancel the current contracts with
the European Carrefour organisations and to offer them replacement contracts without
the annual
operating grant of EUR 20 000 for 2004. I understand that the relevant financial rules have been in force
since 1 January 2003, yet the European Carrefour were not informed of this decision until 29 September
2003.

The European Carrefour constitutes an essential source of information about the EU, and it would seem
that this is an inopportune moment for such a change in policy, given that they are in the process of
preparing public campaigns on enlargement; the new Constitution and the European Parliament elections.

Why was such a decision taken, and how does the Commission envisage that the European Carrefour will
be able to function in 2004 with such a reduced budget?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3007/03, P-3068/03, E-3112/03, P-3153/03,
E-3240/03, P-3265/03, E-3287/03, E-3301/03, P-3389/03 and P-3403/03
given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2003)

The Commission would thank the Honourable Members for their questions and wishes to make the
following points.

The thirteen hundred general public information relays which are run on the Commission’s behalf by the
Directorate-General for Press and Information all receive logistical aid in the form of technical support
services in kind (1) which, it has been confirmed, will continue.

Only the 270 or so host structures of an information relay belonging to the rural
information and
promotion carrefours or Info-Points Europe have in the past received a flat-rate annual operating grant.
This grant was awarded on the basis of an agreement signed with the Commission which was renewable
annually by means of a supplementary agreement.

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 70 E/197

For 2004 the Commission was subject to two constraints: first of all, the award of this grant is not
compatible with the new Financial Regulation (2), which came into force on 1 January 2003, and second,
the agreements provide that either party may terminate the agreement at the end of each calendar year
subject to three months’ notice.

As it will be unable to continue financing the information relays in 2004 on the basis of the past
arrangement, the Commission informed the host structures of European rural carrefours or Info-Points
Europe accordingly, giving the appropriate notice.

The Commission would add that the relays may also respond (cid:1) via their host structure, as no relay has
legal personality enabling it to act by itself (cid:1) to the calls for proposals of the European institutions; some
of them have done so and been awarded grants. The notices are published in the ‘procurement’ annex of
the Official Journal of the European Union and are accessible on the Europa website.

The Commission will shortly be taking a position on the general issue of public information relays and
networks, in particular with a view to enlargement. It will inform the Honourable Members as soon as
possible.

(1)

Free supply of documentation and publications for the general public (some 3 million copies a year), access to the
relays and networks intranet, specialist services via a relays and networks help desk (at an annual cost of around
EUR 1 500 000), free staff training courses (800 man/days a year), leadership and networking measures: periodic
coordination meetings, visits, exchange programmes for relay staff
(over 3 000 man/days a year), original
information products targeted at the specific needs of relays, etc.

(2) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the
general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002; that Regulation covered, for the first time,
grants awarded by the European institutions and lays down conditions for their use. Implementing measures:
Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002, OJ L 357, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 70 E/212)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3017/03

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 October 2003)

Subject: Bankruptcy of Grundig AG and protecting jobs in Portugal

In its reply of 20 June 2003 to my question E-1507/03 (1), the Commission said that it was gathering the
requisite information before replying to my question concerning Grundig’s bankruptcy and the protection
of the jobs concerning in Portugal.

Does the Commission have the information? If so, will it please forward it to me?

(1) OJ C 268 E, 7.11.2003, p. 203.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 2003)

The Commission has now received the information it requested from the Portuguese authorities and would
refer the Honourable Member to its supplementary reply to her written question E-1507/03 (1).

(1) OJ C 268 E, 7.11.2003, p. 203.