WRITTEN QUESTION E-0357/04 by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (PSE) to the Commission. Sparsely populated areas in future regional policy.
Date: 2004-02-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU regional policy, State aid, regional aid, rural region, standard of living, underpopulation

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/575

that a sophisticated networked international child sexual exploitation image database, building on the
fledgling system at Interpol, be urgently required. Such a database, being both technically and legally
possible, would have to take into account the different national laws governing images of child sexual
exploitation and protection of personal data.

The Commission is not responsible for the actual setting up of such an international database as this is left
to the appreciation of the Member States and other involved countries. The Commission is currently
supporting an effort made by several Member States, Europol and other third countries under the AGIS
programme for funding an implementation study as a concrete follow-up to the above mentioned
feasibility study.

It aims at preparing the establishment of a sophisticated networked international database of child-
pornography on-line images. The database will be an effective tool for law enforcement in identifying
victims and offenders of child sexual exploitation on-line around the world. It will reduce the international
duplication of effort and increase international co-operation in achieving these goals.

The Commission believes that the proposed database will have a major impact on the effective policing of
this horrendous crime by improving the exchange of information, reducing duplication and significantly
raising the analytical capacity.

(1) OJ L 33, 6.2.1999.
(2) Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA of 22 December 2003 on combating the sexual exploitation of children

and child pornography, OJ L 13, 20.1.2004.

(3) OJ L 270, 7.10.1998.
(4) OJ L 138, 9.6.2000.

(2004/C 84 E/0652)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0357/04

by Ewa Hedkvist Petersen (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Sparsely populated areas in future regional policy

(12 February 2004)

Living and running a business in sparsely populated areas entail higher costs for day-to-day activities. Long
distances to work, goods and services, both within the region concerned and other regions, together with
inadequate infrastructure mean that the population of such areas have a very high cost of living.

In view of this situation, will the Commission give sparsely populated areas special treatment in its
proposal on the new structural funds by granting higher levels of support?

Will the Commission propose that sparsely populated areas receive favourable treatment in terms of the
scope for state aid?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(22 March 2004)

Under the present Commission Guidelines on national regional aid laying down the State aid rules for
regional development purposes for the period 2000-2006 (1), regions characterised with low population
i.e. regions with less than 12,5 inhabitants per square kilometre (km2), receive a favourable
density,
treatment and enjoy an investment aid ceiling of 30 % net, unless they fulfil the 75 % gross domestic
product (GDP)/capita test, and have then access to use higher aid intensities. Moreover,
in the low
population density areas, operating aid in the form of aid to offset additional transport cost is also allowed.

C 84 E/576

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission is currently reviewing its rules on regional State aid for the period after 2006. A decision
on the new regional aid guidelines is likely to be adopted in 2005.

With regard to low population density areas, no substantial change as compared to the present situation to
the detriment of these areas is envisaged at this stage of reflection. Low population density areas are likely
to continue to be eligible for regional aid, including aid to offset additional transport costs that affect the
economic activity in the regions concerned. Furthermore, the Commission is aware of the continued
depopulation that the most arctic regions are suffering from and is examining whether other types of
operating aid can be authorised where such aid is necessary to stop depopulation, provided that the aid
does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest.

Moreover, the proposal for the reform of the cohesion policy, as laid down in the third cohesion report,
including sparsely
takes into account the situation of regions suffering from geographical handicaps,
populated areas, thus hindering their accessibility and their development. It is therefore proposed that
these territories should actually benefit from an increase in the maximum Community contribution.
Furthermore, the allocation of the resources for the regional competitiveness and employment priority
(new objective 2) should take account of this by using ‘territorial’ criteria, thus reflecting the relative
disadvantage of these regions. Member States should thus ensure that the specificities of these regions are
taken into account when targeting the resources within regional programmes.

(1) OJ C 74, 10.3.1998.

(2004/C 84 E/0653)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0371/04

by Proinsias De Rossa (PSE) to the Commission

(12 February 2004)

Subject: Ireland’s failure to fix penalties for ozone-depleting substances

What reply has the Commission received from the Irish Government in response to the letter of formal
notification that it sent to Ireland in October 2003, as announced in Commission press release IP/03/1425,
regarding Ireland’s failure to indicate what penalties have been fixed for breaches of the EU Regulation on
ozone-depleting substances (cid:1) Regulation 2037/2000 (1) of 29 June 2000 (cid:1) by the 31 December 2001
deadline?

What action is the Commission now considering in this matter?

(1) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(23 March 2004)

In December 2003, the Irish authorities notified national penalty provisions for the purposes of Article 21
of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 29 June 2000 on substances
that deplete the ozone layer (1). This notification is currently under examination.

(1) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000.