WRITTEN QUESTION No. 693/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Implementation of operational programme for the tourist industry (SUPPLEMENTARY ANSWER)
C 402/22 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 12. 98 Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (5 May 1998) The Commission would draw the Honourable Membersí attention to the fact that, under the financial perspective for the period up to 1999, the overall budgetary amount indicated for the first two years of the Altener programme is ECU 30 million, of which ECU 14. 4 million for 1998 and ECU 15. 6 million for 1999. Although the Budgetary Authority only provided ECU 11 million for the 1998 budget, the Commission, in its proposal for a multiannual framework programme for actions in the energy sector (1), confirmed these amounts for renewable energy (Altener) for the first two financial years 1998/1999. The overall amount for 1998 to 2002 is ECU 81. 1 million for this action. The Commission agrees that the formulation of pan-European standards is an important aspect of promoting renewable energy. To this end a practical action is planned under Altener II to continue the work started under Altener I. Under this programme, four standards (solar thermal, photovoltaic, wind and biodiesel) are currently being drafted in the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (Cenelec). (1) COM(97) 550 final. (98/C 402/028) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0693/98 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 March 1998) Subject: Implementation of operational programme for the tourist industry In its answer to my Question No H-0813/96 (1) concerning the implementation of the Greek operational programme for the tourist the low take-up rate of the relevant the Commission pointed out appropriations and urged the Greek authorities to use up the remainder. Furthermore, it was awaiting the national authoritiesí final decisions and planning for the marinas and the integrated tourist development regions (ITDRs). industry, More than a year has passed since the Commissionís answer and the operational programme expires on 31 December 1999. Will the Commission, therefore, say: 1. what the current take-up rate is for the operational programme for the tourist industry, 2. whether the locations for setting up the ITDRs have been selected and what they are, 3. whether it has been decided what type of project will receive funding, and 4. whether funding will be provided for projects on public land only or on privately owned land as well? (1) Debates of the European Parliament No 4-489 (October 1996). Supplementary answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (7 May 1998) The Greek operational programme for tourism and culture, as amended on 7 December 1997, contains commitment appropriations for 1995-1997 totalling ECU 55. 1 million, of which ECU 19. 5 million is for the tourism sub-programme. So far, all commitments and payments programmed up to the end of 1997 have been implemented. At the end of February 1998, public expenditure on the tourism sub-programme accounted for 24. 33 % of the total. The region of Messinia was selected as an ITDR (integrated tourist development region). The expenditure to be taken into account is that set out in Greek Law No 1892/90. This ITDR will be carried out on private property