WRITTEN QUESTION E-2391/99 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Irregularities in the construction of the Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona high speed train link.
C 225 E/122 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 The Commissionís proposal is accompanied by a financial statement. The proposal is expected to entail an increase in expenditure of EUR 77 million and an increase in income of EUR 30 million. The impact on the budget of applying a tariff-only system is not quantifiable at this stage. (1) SEC(1999) 1820 final. (2000/C 225 E/129) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2391/99 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Irregularities in the construction of the Madrid-Zaragoza-Barcelona high speed train link Two senior members of staff of the Railway Investment Management Body (GIF) which comes under the Spanish Governmentís Ministry of Public Works. Have recently been dismissed after giving contracts worth 5 billion pesetas to companies with which they have shareholding links for construction work on the Madrid-Barcelona-Zaragoza high-speed train link. Given that the EUís Cohesion Fund is co-funding this construction work is the Commission aware of these irregularities and if so, does it believe that they should be investigated by the Community authorities? Does the Commission believe that these facts could delay the high-speed train link or endanger its EU co- funding? Has the Commission asked the Spanish Government for clarification, and if so, will it do so? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (20 January 2000) The Commission is aware of the resignation of two members of the staff of the GIF (the body managing railway infrastructure) and of the opening of an administrative inquiry. This inquiry, conducted by the Spanish Ministry of Transport ( Fomentoí), was intended to establish whether there was a link between these members of staff and the two companies awarded contracts for construction work on the high-speed railway line from Madrid to Barcelona and the French border and whether those companies received preferential treatment. The Minister responsible recently presented the results of the inquiry to the Spanish Parliament. The contracts in question are not receiving part-financing from the Cohesion Fund but form part of two groups of projects for which the Spanish authorities have applied for part-financing. This application is currently being considered. The Commission is awaiting the results of the inquiry carried out by the Spanish authorities before deciding what measures to take. (2000/C 225 E/130) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2392/99 by Jean-Claude Martinez (TDI) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Lethal flooding in the south of France In November 1999, torrential rain, floods, landslides and broken material swept through four southern French dØpartements, Aude, HØrault, Tarn and the PyrØnØes Orientales, causing widespread devastation and more than 30 deaths, destroying roads, railway lines and all public electricity, water and telephone