WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. MEDIA II programme ‐ training (1996-2000).
C 225 E/30 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 As regards public health, the Commission has on a number of occasions already demonstrated that it is giving serious consideration to the problem of antimicrobial resistance. The Commission is providing support for Enter-net, an international network for monitoring gastro- enteritis, especially human salmonellosis and infection with E. coli O 157. This includes resistance to antibiotics of salmonella isolates. All Member States are involved, along with Switzerland and Norway. In order to make up for the lack of information on bacteria resistant to antibiotics and their importance in terms of public health, the Commission in August 1999 issued an invitation to tender for a study into the use of antimicrobial agents in the Community with a view to establishing a basis for future surveillance measures in this field. (1) OJ L 62, 15. 3. 1993. (2000/C 225 E/031) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1895/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 October 1999) Subject: MEDIA II programme ü training (1996-2000) Will the Commission state what agencies (public or private), institutions, companies, cooperatives and individuals have been allocated funding (specifying whether payments have already been made) under MEDIA II ü Training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme industry (1996-2000) (budget ü ECU 45 million, equal to approx. LIT 87 billion) and how much each of them has been granted? Has it checked how the amounts have actually been used and whether the proposed measures have been successfully implemented? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (29 November 1999) The Commission will forward directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliamentís Secretariat-General a table containing the list of bodies, institutes and companies which have been allocated funding under the Media II ü Training programme from 1996, which was the first year the programme was implemented, until the first half of 1999. The Honourable Member should also consult the Commission report on the results obtained under the Media II programme during the period from 1 January 1996 to 30 June 1998 (1). Allocation of funding is governed by the text of Council Decision 95/564/EC of 22 December 1995 on the implementation of a training programme for professionals in the European audiovisual programme (1996-2000) (2). Funding is allocated in the form of grants. Calls for industry (Media II ü Training) proposals are published in the Official Journal. The different eligibility and selection criteria which are applicable are specified by guidelines. The selection of beneficiaries is carried out by the Commission, with assistance, in accordance with the methods provided for by the Council Decision: in particular the technical selection of projects, monitoring and evaluation of projects benefiting from the programmeís funding, the Commission will ensure that it obtains the expertise of acknowledged specialists from the audiovisual sector in the field of professional training. To this end, it can if necessary involve intermediary organisations which, on the basis of their professional expertise, will provide technical assistance and will formulate proposals for the choice of the beneficiaries, without prejudice to other selection methods. í In implementing the programme, Following a call for proposals, the Commission selected an intermediary organisation (Media Training intermediary organisation, based in Madrid) to provide it with the necessary technical assistance. Moreover, the Commission avails itself of panels of independent experts for the process of selecting beneficiaries. These are recognised professionals in the sector. 8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/31 Use of funding allocated is determined by the contractual arrangements between the Commission and each of the beneficiaries. Monitoring is carried out mainly by the Commission, with technical assistance from the sectoral intermediary organisation which monitors performance of the contracts, and with technical assistance from the áhorizontalí intermediary organisation which monitors payment and collection; it is also assisted by random independent audits of the beneficiaries. With regard to the success of the initiatives implemented, the Honourable Member should consult the above report. (1) COM(1999) 91 final. (2) OJ L 321, 30. 12. 1995. (2000/C 225 E/032) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1919/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (14 October 1999) Subject: Cuts in Ekpizo funds Ekpizo is a well-known Greek consumers association recognised by the European Union which funds its programmes. Recently the Commissionís DG XXIV retroactively implemented Decision No 283/1999/EC (1) áestablishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumersí which entered into force in February 1999, cutting Drs. 15 million from the total amount due and suspending Ekpizoís two programmes for 1999 which had been approved in 1998. Given that the provisions of the Decision do not state that it applies retroactively, will the Commission say: 1. Why have these cuts been made to Ekpizo programmes? 2. What measures does it intend to take to ensure continued funding of the programmes that had been approved prior to publication of the above Decision? (1) OJ L 34, 9. 2. 1999, p. 1. Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (22 November 1999) The Commission does not árecogniseí as such any national consumers associations. It has identified more than 125 associations among which a number of Greek associations, including Ekpizo, which are kept directly informed about European consumer protection developments by the Commission. Ekpizo has presented for a number of years projects to be co-financed by the Commission. In 1997, the Commission agreed to finance two projects for a total amount of € 260 941 (DRA 81 million). In 1998, one project was financed by the Commission (€ 39 752). For the year 1999, two Ekpizo projects were approved in accordance with the procedures established by the legal base, Decision No 283/1999/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999 establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers. Under Article 7 of the contract signed by Ekpizo, the Commission decided to carry out a financial audit relating to the two projects financed in 1997. The main findings included the lack of any book-keeping which made control of total expenditure or total revenue impossible; the existence of unofficial receipts for salaries paid to free-lance employees and for suppliers, although official invoices are necessary to comply with Commission rules; and the fact that it was not possible to establish the effective payment of the counterpart of the Commissionís subsidy. As a result, the Commission decided not to pay the full amount for the two projects, but to retain a lump sum of 15 million Dra. This represents a reduction of less than 20 % compared to the payment foreseen and corresponds to the expenditure which has not been duly justified