WRITTEN QUESTION E-0727/04 by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission. Information on the performance reserve for the Lazio Region.
Date: 2004-03-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community support framework, EU financing arrangements, Latium, dissemination of EU information, regional aid

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/665

(2004/C 84 E/0749)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0726/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Aid for producer organisations in the fisheries sector

For some time, Italian fisheries associations have been striving to save their trade, not least through a
correct and precise interpretation of Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 (1). This Article lays
down certain parameters under which aid may be granted by Member States for three years following the
recognition of the producer organisation.

According to the consistent interpretation of the relevant Commissioner, Fischler,
this aid must be
considered cumulative, as evidenced by the decision of the European Commission of 11 July 2001
SG (2001) D/289689 (State aid No 768/2000 (cid:1) España (Baleares)); the decision of 20 February 2001
(State aid No 529/2000 (cid:1) Ireland); the decision of 3 April 2002 (State aid No 803/2001 (cid:1) España
(Andalucía)); and the decision of 3 April 2002 (State aid No 820/2001 (cid:1) Portugal).

However, the associations mentioned above learnt from the note of 5 February 2004 No 017040 that the
Director of DG Fisheries Verstraete, in the interpretation of Article 15 of the above Regulation, intends to
restrict the field of application to the more restrictive of the two parameters in question, clearly contrasting
with the amount indicated by Commissioner Fischler.

Can the Commission answer the following:

1. What is the correct interpretation and application of Article 15 of Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999?

2. Which of the two interpretations provided by Commissioner Fischler and by the Director of DG

Fisheries respectively should be taken into consideration?

(1) OJ L 337, 30.12.1999, p. 10.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 March 2004)

We can inform the Honourable Member that:

(cid:1) the interpretation to be given to Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2792/1999 of 17 December
1999 laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in
the fisheries sector (last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2369/2002 (1)) was sent above Mrs Verstraete’s
signature to the Italian authorities on 5 February (under the reference 17040) and to Legapesca on
16 February (under the reference 017049);

(cid:1) there is no contradiction between these replies and the Commission Decisions to which the

Honourable Member refers.

(1) OJ L 358, 31.12.2002.

(2004/C 84 E/0750)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0727/04

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Information on the performance reserve for the Lazio Region

Community regulations on the use of the Structural Funds (Article 7(5) of Regulation (EC) 1260/1999 (1))
provide for 4 % of the total resources of the Community support framework for 2000-2006 to be set aside
for mid-term payment on the basis of the performance (cid:1) in terms of the effectiveness of the form of
assistance, proper management and financial implementation (cid:1) of the regional and central authorities
receiving funding.

C 84 E/666

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

This form of premium, referred to in Italy precisely as a ‘reward’ and accompanied by an extra payment by
the Italian Treasury, would appear to have been granted recently to the Lazio Region in recognition of its
outstanding achievements under Docup Objective 2, with EUR 314 million being committed to the region,
of which over EUR 290 million was provided by European funding, and 1 527 projects funded in addition
to investments totalling EUR 403 800 000 and the designation of
five industrial zones and three
production zones as excellent (source: www.tesoro.it).

Can the Commission answer the following:

1.

In view of the above, can the Commission state how much has been paid by the EU to the Lazio
Region pursuant to Article 7(5) of the above Regulation?

2. Which other Italian and European regions have been recognised in this way and how much of the 4 %

set aside have they received?

3.

Is it planned that a general report be published on the payment of the 4 % set aside to the various
European authorities rewarded in this way?

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(20 April 2004)

Council Regulation (EC) No1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural
Funds (1) states that the Commission will allocate the performance reserve not later than 31 March 2004
on the basis of proposals from the Member State.

On 23 March 2004, the Commission decided the allocations of the performance reserve (2). The Lazio
region received EUR 16 118 352. All
Italian and most EU regions received allocations from the
performance reserve. In total, over 90 % of Structural Funds programmes received an allocation. The
precise amounts are outlined in the text of the decision.

A report on the operation of the performance reserve is being prepared for discussion with the Member
States in the context of the Committee of the Development and Conversion of the regions. This report will
be available in May 2004.

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.
(2) C(2004) 883 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0751)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0735/04

by José García-Margallo y Marfil (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 March 2004)

Subject: Funding of projects designed to transfer water from the Ebro river basin to southern and eastern

parts of Spain

How many projects relating to the transfer of water from the Ebro river basin to southern and eastern
parts of Spain have been financed by means of the Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund?