WRITTEN QUESTION No. 24/98 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. The Kurdish problem and the European Union
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/87 (98/C 223/108) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0023/98 by Francis Decourrie‘re (PPE) to the Commission (29 January 1998) Subject: Single Programming Document › Objective 1, France, Hainaut › Industrial waste measures › Priority 4 › Sub-priority 4 › Measures 15-1 My attention has on a number of occasions been drawn to the difficulties encountered in obtaining funding for projects concerning matter other than industrial waste, on the grounds that it is said not to be eligible. 1. Cannot units for the treatment of: › hospital waste › green waste › domestic refuse be eligible under the measures industrial waste › Priority 4 › Sub-priority 4 › Measures 15-1? 2. Will the Commission extend the projects eligible to cover them? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (17 February 1998) The question refers to the difficulties said to be encountered by certain projects for the treatment of non-industrial waste under the single programming document (SPD) for Objective 1 in the North/Pas de Calais region. The Commission wishes give high priority in regional policy operations to the treatment of industrial waste and to the establishment and development of firms, particularly small and medium-sized firms, in the environmental sector. That is why this SPD for Objective 1 does not include part-financing for units to treat non-industrial waste or for collective sewage treatment plants. The amendment of the SPD to include them could have serious financial repercussions and would mean a revision of the strategy, which would be a matter for the partnership. It should, however, be possible to support the establishment of firms to treat or recycle waste, particularly if they use new technologies. The SPD does include measures to support investment by firms and for the introduction of clean and economical technologies into existing firms. It should be possible to use these measures, with any necessary adjustments, to meet the needs referred to. (98/C 223/109) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0024/98 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (15 January 1998) Subject: The Kurdish problem and the European Union Following the recent mass exodus of Kurds into Europe, how will the Commission direct its programmes in order to provide guarantees and essential aid for Kurds in the Member States of the European Union, particularly those who have political refugee status, in view of the fact that they have also been officially recognized as belonging to a political and linguistic minority? Answer given by Ms Gradin on behalf of the Commission (9 February 1998) The Conclusions of the Luxembourg European Council referred to the massive influx of immigrants, in particular from Iraq (1). The Council was requested to prepare and implement an action plan which would also take account of the causes of the influx, of which humanitarian aspects and human rights were an integral part. The plan outlines external relations measures to be taken by the European Union and will also contain a justice and home affairs component, covering in particular the asylum and immigration aspects. The Commission was actively involved in drawing up the action plan as it will be in its implementation