WRITTEN QUESTION No. 445/98 by Concepció FERRER to the Commission. Decentralization of the Interreg II programme
C 310/64 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 9. 10. 98 The EAGGF contribution represents 75% of expenditure, as Ireland is an objective 1 area. The Community contribution is limited to 50% in other regions. As a proportion of total EAGGF expenditure on agri-environment programmes, the amount spent on REPS represented 4% in 1995, 3% in 1996 and over 6% in 1997. For purposes of comparison, Ireland accounts for 3. 3% of the utilized agricultural area (UAA) of the Community. Concerning the breakdown by type of measure, the Commission has not yet received a report from Ireland on the implementation of the programme and the data supplied relates only to overall figures. The Commission would like to draw the attention of the Honourable Member to the Commissionís report (2) on the application of Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92, submitted to the Parliament on 4 December 1997. (1) OJ L 215, 30. 7. 1992. (2) COM(97) 620 final. (98/C 310/83) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0445/98 by Concepcio· Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (27 February 1998) Subject: Decentralization of the Interreg II programme The aim of the Interreg II programme is to implement effective mechanisms to facilitate cooperation between frontier regions. Some countries have chosen to decentralize the office responsible for managing this programme to the region concerned, such as France, which has established an office in Toulouse for the Midi-Pyre·ne·es region. Does the Commission not consider that all Member States should be asked to decentralize the offices responsible for the management of this programme to bring them into closer contact with the situation in the region concerned and with the beneficiaries of the programme, while at the same time improving management efficiency? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1998) In the guidelines for the Interreg II operational programmes (1), the Commission stresses the importance it attaches to the establishment or development, in cooperation with the regional or local authorities concerned, of shared institutional or administrative structures in border areas competent to implement projects. The Member States have been encouraged to take this into account as far as possible. (1) OJ C 180, 1. 7. 1994. (98/C 310/84) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0447/98 by Concepcio· Ferrer (PPE) to the Commission (27 February 1998) Subject: Current situation in the onion sector The reform of the COM in fruit and vegetables did not take into account the proposal submitted by the European Parliament calling for onions to be included in Annex II to the relevant regulation to enable it to benefit from withdrawal premiums