WRITTEN QUESTION E-1268/00 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Euro-Arab Management School.
C 374 E/214 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 whose father was awarded custody after her parentsí divorce, finds it intolerable to live with him in an Islamic environment in a country which blatantly violates many of the rights that European women consider inalienable. Erica is an Italian citizen and wants to return to Italy to live with her mother and younger sister. She is under the protection of the Italian authorities who are providing her with every assistance under Italian law. However, it is difficult to bring her out of the country and to re-unite her with her mother as she wishes, and as has been reiterated in a letter from the President of the Republic of Italy, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. What measures does the Commission intend to take so that its representative can help the Italian Embassy in its efforts to comply with Ericaís wishes and enable her to return to Europe to live with her mother? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (16 May 2000) The Commission does not have a representation in Kuwait. It was not informed of the case referred to by the Honourable Member, which is not covered by its mandate but falls within the competence of the Member States, specifically Italy in its bilateral relations with Kuwait. The Commission relies on the authorities in Kuwait and Italy to solve the problem according to their laws and in the girlís best interests. (2000/C 374 E/253) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1268/00 by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission (19 April 2000) Subject: Euro-Arab Management School The European Parliamentís resolution of 30 March 1984 (1) created a Euro-Arab University in Spain, as part of the Euro-Arab dialogue set up between the then European Economic Community and the Arab League. Plans to create a Euro-Arab Management School in Granada were approved by the European Commissionís Mediterranean Committee on 21 September 1994. The Euro-Mediterranean Conference held in Barcelona in November 1995 referred to the School and the important role it would play in the field of vocational training and education, making it of undoubted value as a regional cooperation project for the Mediterranean area. In the 1999 budget Parliament adopted an appropriation of EUR 100 000 for the School (Item A-3119), which the Commission has still not disbursed, and a commitment of EUR 380 000. At the same time the Commission endowed the School with a redemption fund of EUR 6 million, of which only the interest payments may theoretically be used, but bureaucratic difficulties are preventing their use. 1. What are the reasons preventing the use of these funds? 2. Is the Commission aware that the economic difficulties described above may prevent the operation of this important project for Euro-Arab cooperation in a region vital to European interests, as pointed out in a number of Parliamentís resolutions and Commission and Council statements? 3. Does the Commission have the political will to provide the Euro-Arab Management School with the greatest possible cooperation and financial aid, since this is a project that will make a very positive impact on the exchange of experience and the training of business managers from the Arab world and Europe? (1) OJ C 117, 30. 4. 1984, p. 165. 28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/215 Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (16 May 2000) Experts were commissioned to carry out a rehabilitation study of the initial objectives of the Euro-Arab Management School (EAMS) and its achievements to date. The conclusions of this assessment show that there is a substantial difference between the initial objectives and what has been achieved. At this stage the EAMS project is being evaluated carefully to work out the best plan of action for the Schoolís future. The Commission is aware of the Schoolís financial difficulties and of the importance of the project and will do its best to judge objectively and make decisions in the best interests of all concerned. (2000/C 374 E/254) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1291/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (19 April 2000) Subject: Project for construction of a water purifying plant in Gondomar in the context of the integrated improvement project for the Ria de Vigo financed by the Cohesion Fund The decision of the Commission to grant Cohesion Fund aid to the set of integrated clearance projects for the Ria de Vigo (Galicia) (Commission Decision 95/11/61/035) provides, in one of its paragraphs, for a specific action for integrated improvement for Gondomar and the river Miæor. This specific project was costed at ECU 4 836 036 in total. In the case of Gondomar, the first stage consists of the construction of a water purifying plant and a number of collectors; the construction work has terminated, but the plant is not yet officially in operation. The project has given rise to a major controversy in the local community, and has even been the subject of a complaint lodged with the regional ombudsman for Galicia: the plant has been built on privately-owned land belonging to a single proprietor, and the contract of sale was drawn up in a secret and irregular fashion. It further appears that the transaction has been highly profitable for the owner, who has now filed a request for the land to be reclassified with a view to using it for property development. In addition, the access road to the plant (linking the Ramallosa-Gondomar road to the parish of Dornas, in the municipality of Gondomar) runs through this personís land and has not yet been completed: access to the plant is thus not at present possible. Can the Commission call for an inquiry into these circumstances, as well as for the assessment and monitoring of this project, which has been suspended for some time and which appears to exhibit operational irregularities? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (7 June 2000) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible. (2000/C 374 E/255) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1302/00 by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Commission (12 April 2000) Subject: Statement by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Council Does the President of the Commission, in his capacity as a member of the European Council, agree with the statement made to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on 3 April by Mr Philippe de Boissieu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council, that the European Council never read the Presidencyís Conclu- sions and could not explain them?