WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1074/98 by Roberta ANGELILLI to the Commission. Irregularities in the tender procedure regarding computerization
11. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 386/77 Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (29 April 1998) As part of the Community policy for rural development the Commission has encouraged Member States to provide aid for the diversification of agricultural production towards non-food products. In the case of Ireland Community aid was available to farmers and other rural dwellers to diversify into greyhound breeding under the operational programme for agriculture, rural development and forestry 1994-1999. An amount of Ir£ 870 000 of public expenditure was provided for schemes to improve breed quality and for marketing and promotion. No claims have been made on Community funding and it has been decided to agree to withdraw the measures from the operational programme. (98/C 386/102) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1070/98 by Allan Macartney (ARE) to the Commission (6 April 1998) Subject: WTO Ministerial Conference and the impact of GATT/WTO on animal protection Has the Commission considered the implications of GATT and the World Trade Organization on the protection of animals and the European Communityís ability to limit animal suffering and ban imports of products where there have been clear abuses on animals/cruel exports of live animals? Does the Commission intend to raise this issue at the WTO Ministerial Conference in May and ensure adequate protection for animals within the EU? Answer given by Mr Sir Leon Brittan on behalf of the Commission (8 May 1998) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to written question No 949/98 by Mr Watts (1). (1) OJ C 354, 19. 11. 1998. (98/C 386/103) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1074/98 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (30 March 1998) Subject: Irregularities in the tender procedure regarding computerization I have requested in three questions, P-1972/97 (1), P-2841/97 (2) and E-3869/97 (3), an opinion on suspected irregularities in the procedure followed by the Italian Government in awarding the contract for computerization of the services of the Ministry for Education. The Commission has received from the Italian Government confirmation of my claim that the Tele Sistemi Ferroviari company belonging to the Ferrovie dello Stato group (FS › Italian State Railways) was sold by that group after a bid had been submitted in response to the invitation to tender but before the final award of the contract. The FS, which, together with the EDS, formed the temporary consortium which was the successful bidder, was thus divested of their only company specializing in the IT field. If all this were confirmed, the consequence would be that on the date on which the contract was awarded the FS