WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1923/97 by David BOWE to the Commission. UNECE Sulphur Protocol
C 45/124 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 2. 98 (98/C 45/158) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1923/97 by David Bowe (PSE) to the Commission (4 June 1997) Subject: UNECE Sulphur Protocol What does the Commission propose to do to encourage Member States to ratify the UNECE sulphur protocol? Does not the Commission agree that speedy ratification by Member States would greatly contribute to the attainment of its acidification reduction targets? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (2 July 1997) The Commission agrees that speedy ratification of the 1994 sulphur protocol of the Convention on long range transboundary air pollution would assist delivery of the environmental quality target for acidification. This is also being stressed in the acidification strategy, in which it is stated that one of the first steps of an ambitious policy to combat acidification should be to ratify the 1994 sulphur protocol. There are several reasons for ratification. The Community should demonstrate its commitment with regard to existing international undertakings. Ratification by at least 16 signatory parties is necessary to make the protocol operational. The protocol contains provisions for future reviews which provide the opportunity for more far-reaching commitments that could further contribute to meet the environmental quality targets of the Community. Ratification by the Community would encourage those Member States that have yet not done so to ratify the protocol. In light of the above the Commission has submitted a proposal for a Council decision on the conclusion by the Community of the 1994 sulphur protocol. This proposal was attached to the acidification strategy (1). (1) COM(97) 88 final. (98/C 45/159) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1930/97 by Salvador Garriga Polledo (PPE) to the Commission (4 June 1997) Subject: Structural Funds Will the Commission explain the procedure to be applied with respect to outstanding amounts from the Structural Funds at the end of the current programming period (1994-1999)? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (15 July 1997) Payments related to commitments made in the current programming period will continue to be effected after 1999. The Commission responds to payment requests introduced by Member States, which in turn depend on the progress of programme implementation. The speed with which outstanding commitments are cleared therefore depends mainly on Member States. In the grant assistance decisions there exist deadlines for final payments. These deadlines can be prolonged on a case-by-case basis upon request and when justified