WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2399/97 by Jean-Yves LE GALLOU to the Commission. Community subsidies
C 76/106 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 3. 98 (98/C 76/208) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2388/97 by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission (10 July 1997) Subject: Ratification of the European Agreements The European Agreements concluded between the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe and the European Union in 1995 laid the foundations for the next enlargement of the Union. The earliest possible ratification of the agreements in all the present Member States of the Union would facilitate the development of more institutionalized cooperation between the new applicant countries and the Union. Thus it is of fundamental importance to preparations for the EU accession negotiations in the applicant countries that the European Agreements should function well, helping to pave the way. It is therefore astonishing that Belgium and France have not yet ratified the European Agreements with all the Baltic States. In view of the above, what will the Commission do to ensure that Belgium and France › the foot-draggers › ratify the agreements with the Baltic States without delay? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (31 July 1997) The Commission has taken every opportunity to encourage the rapid ratification by Member States of the Europe agreements with the Baltic states. Although a significant part of the cooperation foreseen under the Europe agreements is already in place with these countries today, on the basis of the existing free trade agreements, and notwithstanding the fact that these countries are already fully participating in the pre-accession process, the entry into force of these Europe agreements would give an important signal of the extent of the Communityís relations with these countries. The Commission continues to encourage the speedy ratifications of the Europe agreements. (98/C 76/209) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2399/97 by Jean-Yves Le Gallou (NI) to the Commission (10 July 1997) Subject: Community subsidies On 2 June 1997 in Luxembourg, EU foreign ministers gave their agreement to the creation of a European monitoring centre on racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. What are the budgetary consequences of the creation of this centre? Will it have an equivalent status to the specialist European agencies and on what budget line will it operate? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (31 July 1997) On 2 June 1997 the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 1035/97 (1) establishing a European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia. Article 12 (4) if this Regulation states that the revenue of the Centre shall include a subsidy from the Community, entered under a specific heading in the general budget of the European Communities ( Commission’ section)