WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1673/98 by Angela BILLINGHAM to the Commission. Satellite viewing cards
C 50/68 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 22. 2. 1999 (1999/C 50/097) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1670/98 by Cristiana Muscardini (NI) to the Commission (29 May 1998) Subject: LIFE and deadlines for the completion of projects The local press in Mantua has recently published aticles concerning delays in the pilot phase of a project referred to as the Ecoviaí project which, it is reported, is co-funded by the LIFE financial instrument for the environment. The articles refer to the project being áabortedí and wonder whether the European Community áwill understand this wasteí. Would the Commission state: 1. Whether it is true that Life financed a project for the city of Mantua, which falls within my constituency? 2. 3. If so, what is the project and what was the amount of funding involved? Is there a deadline for the completion of the project on which funding is conditional? 4. How many new jobs would the completion of the project generate? 5. What will happen to the funds allocated if the project is not fully completed? Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (8 July 1998) 1. By decision of 24 November 1995, the Commission granted LIFE financial support for the Ecoviaí project, which concerns a model for social integration between Mantua and its rural surroundings and focuses on environmental objectives, especially road traffic reduction. 2. The Communityís financial support is fixed at a maximum of ECU 440 000. The last deadline for completion of the project was 30 April 1998. This could be extended by the 3. Commission at the beneficiaryís request. 4. 5. None of the projects funded by LIFE are designed to create new jobs. If the project is not fully completed, the Commission can cancel its contribution and recover the sums paid. (1999/C 50/098) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1673/98 by Angela Billingham (PSE) to the Commission (18 May 1998) Subject: Satellite viewing cards A constituent of mine has been refused a satellite viewing card from a company called Viasat based in Sweden on the grounds that he lives outside the Scandinavian area and it only has broadcast rights within that area. Could the Commission investigate whether this is a breach of the Treaty in creating an obstacle to the free movement of services? Could the Commission investigate whether this could be an instance of unfair competition whereby the company, Viasat, has made agreements with other television and film providers based on exclusive rights in specific geographic areas?