WRITTEN QUESTION No. 819/98 by José APOLINÁRIO to the Commission. Research and tourism
C 386/46 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 12. 98 Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (28 April 1998) As part of the Community Initiative Pescaí, which is aimed in particular at diversifying economic activities in coastal areas dependent on fishing, several programmes contain projects explicitly related to tourism. These are: › the Seafrontí project for a maritime cultural centre in the fishing port of Zeebrugge (Belgium), with a total volume of around ECU 2. 2 million; the Pescaí contribution is about ECU 550 000; › in Denmark, the conversion of fishing vessels for tourist purposes in Loekken (total volume ECU 125 300; Pescaí contribution ECU 31 300) and in Błnnerup (the Refitourí project) (total volume ECU 285 400; Pescaí contribution ECU 50 000); › a maritime cultural centre in Bremerhaven (Germany), total volume ECU 611 000; Pescaí contribution ECU 305 500; › in Ireland a marina on Bere Island (total volume about ECU 158 000; Pescaí contribution about ECU 88 000), the development of sport fishing around Clare Island (total volume about ECU 38 000; Pescaí contribution about ECU 19 000) and, in the Dingle peninsula, the purchase of new seagoing vessels for tourism (total volume about ECU 398 000; Pescaí contribution about ECU 200 000); › a European network of ásea centresí designed inter alia to promote maritime tourism in a number of Member States (total volume about ECU 283 000; Pescaí contribution ECU 110 000). In Portugal, the Pescaí programme does not cover any schemes specifically for tourism. However, under measure 2 Occupational mobilityí, various projects for the retraining of fishermen and the reassignment of their vessels to other activities, in particular tourism, are eligible for support. The sum allocated to part-financing this measure for the whole of Portugal (mainland, Azores and Madeira) throughout the programming period (1994-1999) is ECU 5. 76 million, to be provided by the European Regional Development Fund. (98/C 386/062) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0819/98 by JosØ ApolinÆrio (PSE) to the Commission (26 March 1998) Subject: Research and tourism Will the Commission provide detailed information on actions related to tourism within the framework of the research budget and specify the aid, the amount provided and the allocation by Member State? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1998) The fourth framework programme for research, technological development and demonstration (1994-1998), jointly decided by Parliament and the Council on 26 April 1994, (1) does not include specific actions as such in the tourism sector. However, numerous research activities, such as átelematic applicationsí, have an impact on the tourism sector. Since these activitiesí relatedness to the tourism sector varies widely, it is not possible to be specific as to their financial impact. The Commission will take the opportunity of the fifth framework programme to evaluate the knock-on impact of research programmes. (1) OJ L 126, 18. 5. 1994