WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3488/97 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. Essex Returners Unit - Failure of Bid to DG V
8. 6. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 174/65 The Commission is also planning to pursue its bilateral meetings with the national authorities concerning the implementation of directives in general terms. These meetings (known as ádirective missionsí) provide an opportunity to make authorities aware of their duty to transpose directives and to help them in their job of doing so. The purpose is to speed up the transposal process and thereby avert infringement situations. 2. 3. The schedule of meetings for 1998 is under discussion with the national authorities. Yes. (98/C 174/107) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3488/97 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (3 November 1997) Subject: Essex Returners Unit › Failure of Bid to DG V Can the Commission confirm that it has received a formal complaint from the Essex Returners Unit regarding the alleged mishandling by the Commission of its project bid 97/D4/UK/171-2, including the allocation of an incorrect project reference and a number of other errors? Can the Commission confirm that it will provide a full and detailed report on why the bid failed and confirm the date when this will be provided? Given the apparent extenuating circumstances, can the Commission identify alternative budget lines which may be available to contribute towards the projectís costs? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (15 December 1997) The Commission did receive a complaint from the Essex Returners Unit about the rejection of its application for a grant within the framework of the European year against racism. A detailed explanation of the reasons for the Commissionís decision was sent to the Essex Returners Unit on 31 July 1997. The Commission rejects the suggestion that this application was in any way mishandled. It was rejected for lack of compliance with a number of formal and qualitative criteria, which were clearly stipulated in all documents relating to applications for funding within the framework of the European year. The applicant has been added to the Commissionís mailing list and will be informed of any other funding opportunities for actions to combat racism. (98/C 174/108) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3491/97 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARE) to the Commission (3 November 1997) Subject: Relocation of Flemish companies to Hainault and Northern France Both the Northern French regions of Lens and Lille and the Belgian province of Hainault benefit from Cohesion Fund subsidies, unlike the adjacent Flemish province of West Flanders. The environmental standards in Northern France and Hainault are also not as strict as in Flanders. The clear result has been that various companies from the southern part of West Flanders have relocated to the much more lucrative neighbouring regions, where, in addition they do not have to pay so much attention to ecological measures. Ironically, it is Flanders which actually has to take responsibility for a large proportion of the pollution from these companies as a result of the pollution of the River Leie