WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3056/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Tobacco reform
C 134/66 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (19 November 1997) The Honourable Member considers that the Commission should promote with contracting authorities the adoption of measures to encourage the participation of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in public procurement. Following the adoption of the green paper of the Commission on public procurement on 27 November 1996, a debate has started with all interested parties on all aspects of European public procurement policy. Many contributions insist on the need to adopt measures to facilitate the participation of SMEs in public procurement. The Parliamentís formal position on the green paper has not yet been adopted. Following its adoption, the consultation phase will end and the Commission will adopt an action oriented communication as to public procurement policy. In this communication, the Commission will take a position on the main issues raised in the debate. The majority of the contributions consider that the measures in favour of the participation of SMEs should be taken within the ambit of training and information. The Commission agrees that the preparation of focused training programmes or the circulation of simple and clear guides could reduce the disadvantages borne by SMEs in public procurement. The Commissionís project on electronic tendering, SIMAP, is also a major exercise in favour of SMEs since the access to information on contract opportunities poses a bigger problem to SMEs due to their limited resources. Of course such support activities involving the Commission would require appropriate financial resources. As to thresholds most contributions accepted the Commissionís point of departure and considered that the thresholds should remain as such. (98/C 134/83) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3056/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 October 1997) Subject: Tobacco reform The report from the Commission to the Council on the common organization of the market in raw tobacco (COM(96) 554 final) provides for the contribution made to the Tobacco Research and Information Fund to be doubled by raising the percentage withheld from the premium to 2%. Bearing in mind the Commissionís guidelines concerning the Tobacco Research and Information Fund, environmental protection, checks and administrative streamlining, could the financial allocation for the fund be higher than the level proposed by the Commission so that the institutional activities concerned may be carried out effectively? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 November 1997) The reform of the common organisation of the market in tobacco proposed by the Commission in its report to Parliament and the Council includes, as essential points, the discouraging of smoking, research to develop the least harmful tobaccos possible and protection of the environment. The Commission is proposing doubling the budget of the information fund to discourage smoking and help producer groups to finance schemes in the field of environmental protection. The Commission considers that this doubling of the resources allocated to the information fund for health purposes is sufficient to enable it to carry out effective activities in the field of public health