WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1995/97 by Jannis SAKELLARIOU to the Commission. Use of MEDA programme funds in 1996
C 45/138 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 2. 98 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (27 June 1997) Since 24 April 1997 inadmissible acts of violence have been perpetrated by French farmers against lorries transporting fruit and vegetables from other Member States, mainly from Spain. The Commission firmly condemns these acts and deplores their repetitive character. It has called on the French authorities urgently to implement adequate and effective measures to maintain law and order, based on binding and clear instructions with a view to guaranteeing the free movement of goods. The Commission takes the view that under Community law, and in particular under Article 30 of the EC Treaty, which forms an integral part of the common organization of the markets, in conjunction with Article 5 of the aforesaid EC Treaty, public authorities are required, in the course of the discharge of their functions as regards public safety, to take the necessary measures to prevent and repress actions by private individuals which seriously prejudice the right to the free movement of goods guaranteed by the EC Treaty. Failure to perform this duty is to be seen as a failure to fulfil the obligations which fall to the Member States under the terms of the abovementioned provisions. Given that the preventive and repressive measures previously implemented by the French public authorities to maintain law and order are insufficient to act as a deterrent, the Commission, acting as guardian of the Treaty, has initiated an infringement procedure which is at present at the phase of referral to the Court of Justice (Case C-265/95). The verbal proceedings were held on 10 June 1997. With the Commission having made use of the powers conferred on it by the Treaty to ensure observance of Community law, it is now a matter of awaiting the judgment of the Court of Justice, which is expected to be delivered towards the end of the year. The Commission points out furthermore that incentives have been created as part of the reform of the organization of the market in fruit and vegetables in order to encourage the growth of producer groups operating in several Member States. (98/C 45/179) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1995/97 by Jannis Sakellariou (PSE) to the Commission (9 June 1997) Subject: Use of MEDA programme funds in 1996 How much funding was released for use under the MEDA programme in 1996? What was the legal basis? If 1. certain sums were not released, why not? 2. Which countries receive funding under the MEDA programme and how much? Answer given by Mr Mar ·n on behalf of the Commission (15 July 1997) 1. In 1996, budget heading B7-410 (MEDA) was allocated commitment appropriations amounting to ECU 403 million and payment appropriations amounting to ECU 202 million. The legal basis for this budget heading is Regulation (EC) No 1488/96, adopted by the Council on 23 July 1996 (1). A negative reserve amounting to ECU 200 million entered in the 1996 budget was not released, by decision of the budgetary authority, following rejection of the transfer proposals submitted by the Commission. Despite the late adoption of the legal basis in July, the rate of uptake of the available commitment appropriations under heading B7-410 was 100% and that of the payment appropriations was 77%. 2. The partners that are eligible for the MEDA programme are Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority. Regulation (EC) No 1488/96 does not provide for a fixed amount for each partner but for an overall financial programme planning, indicating the total amount of the national and regional indicative programmes. (1) OJ L 189, 30. 7. 1996