WRITTEN QUESTION No. 944/98 by Allan MACARTNEY to the Commission. EAGGF support for fisheries-related projects
19. 11. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 354/43 (98/C 354/78) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0943/98 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: Dissemination of experience between funding partnerships What steps are being taken to ensure that those bodies dealing with programmes involving aid from the ERDF, the ESF and the EAGGF provide partnerships with information regarding best practice which is based on their experience across programmes and Member States? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (14 May 1998) The beneficiaries of the structural funds in the Member States have no formal duty to transfer experience to other beneficiaries. However, many of them have an interest in knowing best practices in other Member States. The Commission encourages this exchange of experience and ensures a wide range of information activities. Many documents, analyses and reports are published every year on paper and on Internet. Many seminars and conferences are held at the initiative of the Commission, either on thematic issues (e. g. equal opportunities, environment, evaluation) or between those having common interests (e. g. objective 1 regions, social partners). Finally, encouraged by the Commission, the Member States and regions use the technical assistance allocations in the programmes in order to exchange experience with other beneficiaries of the structural funds. (98/C 354/79) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0944/98 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: EAGGF support for fisheries-related projects Do the rules governing Objective 5a areas provide Member States with any scope to award funding to a business not involved directly in the processing or marketing of fisheries products? In particular, would a company which develops and builds frozen-food and refrigerated transporters, a key element in the delivery of fish products from the quayside to the supermarket, qualify for funding? Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (8 May 1998) The European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF) is dedicated to the adjustment of agricultural structures. Investments in fisheries projets covering objective 5a areas can be granted aid under the Financial instrument of fisheries guidance (FIFG). These investments must conform with Council Regulation (EC) No 3699/93 of 21 December 1993 laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding Community structural assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and marketing of its products (1). In this respect investments by a company manufacturing refrigerated transporters are not eligible for either FIFG or EAGGF assistance. (1) OJ L 346, 31. 12. 1993