WRITTEN QUESTION E-0057/04 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Welfare expenditure in the Spanish state and the situation in the EU.
Date: 2004-01-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, EU policy, expenditure, gross domestic product, social security, social-security harmonisation

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/921

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 2004)

The Commission believes that any measures taken to eliminate remaining regulatory barriers to trade
between Member States or to reduce the costs of trading will:

(a)

improve trade between Scotland and the rest of the European Union, and,

(b) by increasing competition, stimulate prosperity.

Increasing prosperity will, in turn, improve trade still further and so create a virtuous economic circle.
The Commission believes this to be true whether the measures are taken at the EU or national level.

At the EU level, Member States must implement the full Internal Market Strategy (1). But on the basis of
subsidiarity, some of the Strategy’s Priority Actions could be implemented by Scotland too: notably Priority
Actions 1 and 2 (increasing the free movement of goods and services, notably by ensuring that market
surveillance authorities apply the principle of mutual recognition), 5 (opening up public procurement),
8 (simplifying regulation), 9 (enforcing Internal Market rules) and 10 (ensuring that information on trading
inside the Internal Market is easily available).

Beyond that, initiatives should be taken that facilitate trade between Scotland and the rest of the EU or
reduce its cost (cid:1) possible examples of such initiatives could include infrastructure investments or
enhanced export promotion of Scottish products. The Accession Countries, in particular, offer significant
new opportunities for Scottish businesses.

(1) Communication from the Commission to the Council,

the European Economic and Social
Committee and the Committee of the Regions, Internal Market Strategy Priorities 2003-2006, COM(2003) 238 final.

the Parliament,

(2004/C 78 E/0974)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0057/04

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Welfare expenditure in the Spanish state and the situation in the EU

According to the Spanish National Statistical Institute, welfare expenditure in the Union accounted for
28,4 % of GDP in 1995 but only 27,3 % in 2000. Spending per inhabitant per annum varies enormously
between Member States (cid:1) from EUR 7 754 in Denmark and 7 035 in Germany to EUR 3 715 in the
Spanish state and 3 765 in Portugal, the latter two being the lowest levels in the EU.

Does the Commission intend to take any type of economic or legislative measures aimed at reducing this
disturbing gap affecting the populations of the different Member States?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 2004)

The Treaty of the European Union establishes in Article 137 that the Community shall support and
complement the activities of Member States in the field of social security and social protection of workers,
and allows the Council to adopt measures designed to encourage cooperation between Member States,
excluding any harmonisation of their laws and regulations.

In this context, the Commission does not intend to propose any financial or legislative measures aimed
directly at reducing the differences in per capita spending on social protection as these would amount to a
substantial interference of the EU in the organisation and financing of social protection systems, which
should remain a competence of Member States.

C 78 E/922

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The Commission prefers to encourage Member States to become increasingly engaged in the modern-
isation of social protection systems through the application of the open method of coordination which is
based on common objectives, monitoring of performances through common indicators and the exchange
of experiences.

Moreover, differences in social protection expenditure per inhabitant are not only determined by policy,
as they also reflect different levels of economic performance, age structures and the strength of informal
solidarity networks as those based on the family.

It should also be noted that the evolution over time of social protection expenditure as a share of gross
domestic product (GDP) is generally countercyclical. The share rises as growth slows down and falls during
an economic upswing.

(2004/C 78 E/0975)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0058/04

by Giuseppe Di Lello Finuoli (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(12 January 2004)

Subject: Funding by the Italian State and the Region of Campania for the programme contract submitted

by Agrifuturo S.c.a.r.l.

With reference to the questioner’s numerous previous questions on the subject, none of which has received
a proper answer, the Commission has now had more than a year to examine the documents concerning
the programme agreement with Agrifuturo. It is hard to believe that it has been impossible to decipher
these documents after such a long time and, on the basis of this examination, to take some decision which
could be communicated to the questioner before the end of the parliamentary term. Can the Commission
please give a swift and comprehensive answer regarding the compatibility of the programme with point 4.9
of the 2000-2006 regional operational programme for Campania?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

We have not had the documents on financing of the programme contract with Agrofuturo S.c.a.r.l. for
more than a year. The Italian authorities sent them to us through the Permanent Representation under
cover of a letter dated 15 May 2003.

On the basis of the information transmitted the Agrofuturo dossier has been transferred to the register of
unnotified (illegal) aids.

A new request for information is at present in preparation.

We can assure the Honourable Member that a decision, whatever it turns out to be, will be adopted as
soon as possible after the Italian authorities’ reply is received.

It should be remembered that under Article 13(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 of 22 March
1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 (now Article 88) of the EC Treaty (1) in
cases of possible unlawful State aid the Commission is not bound by the normal two month time limit for
examination of the case.

(1) OJ L 83, 27.3.1999.