WRITTEN QUESTION E-2374/99 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Implementation of programme for tourism under the CSF for Greece.
C 225 E/118 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 (2000/C 225 E/125) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2374/99 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Implementation of programme for tourism under the CSF for Greece What progress has been made in implementing the subprogramme for tourism forming part of the operational programme for tourism and culture within the Community support framework for Greece (take-up, any delays, cuts, etc. )? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (19 January 2000) Financial implementation of the Tourism and cultureí operational programme (OP) of the Community support framework for Greece for the 19941999 programming period improved appreciably during 1999, mainly thanks to an amendment to its contents and to reallocation of Community aid between the two subprogrammes on átourismí and ácultureí. The new detailed financing plans will be annexed to the Commission Decision which will be signed soon. This amendment will result EUR 520,1 million. in a reduction in the overall budget for this OP of about 34 %, to Community aid will be increased by EUR 5,9 million (2,6 %), (a reduction of EUR 16 million for tourism and an increase of EUR 21,9 million for culture). The absorption rate on the ground currently stands at 59,1 % (EUR 307,7 million). The various adjustments listed above make it likely that all the commitment appropriations will be used. (2000/C 225 E/126) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2377/99 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Tied aid Following the measures taken by the Netherlands and British Ministers for Development with a view to the untying of aid from their development budgets and promoting local industry, could the Commission clarify what steps it has take to support private sector capacities in developing countries by increasing the the local private sector to local access of international competition? thereby promoting exposure of firms to aid contracts, Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (6 January 2000) The Communityís policy has always been based on a wide participation of bidders from the beneficiary and Member States in aid contracts. Special efforts were undertaken, successfully, aiming to increase such participation. The future partnership agreement between the Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries will continue to represent a highly untied aid agreement, open to all signatories of the Convention and containing dispositions for preferential treatment of ACP companies in the competi- tion for aid contracts