WRITTEN QUESTION P-1950/99 by Ursula Stenzel (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Euroteam ‐ misuse of EU aid.
C 170 E/130 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 the new policy by setting up an independent specific, Does the Commission intend to implement horizontal unit responsible for following up and monitoring the measures adopted, or does it intend to upgrade the existing Interservices Groupí and endow it with the fresh powers and specific resources called for by the task in question? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (1 December 1999) In line with the conclusions of the Cologne European Council, the Commission will transmit to the Council and Parliament by the end of 1999 a report on the measures to implement Article 299(2) (former Article 227(2)) of the EC Treaty with regard to the outermost regions. The report will provide answers to the questions put by the Honourable Member. (2000/C 170 E/156) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1944/99 by Isidoro SÆnchez García (ELDR) to the Commission (4 November 1999) Subject: Specific indicators to measure wealth, living standards, etc. , in the ultraperipheral regions Article 299(2) of the Treaty acknowledges that factors such as remoteness, insularity, small size, difficult topography and climate and economic dependence on a few products are prejudicial to the development of the ultraperipheral territories, and were not taken into account when the wealth indicators currently used by the Statistical Office were established. Does the new Commission intend to study the problem and devise appropriate specific indicators to measure wealth, living standards, under employment and extent of development in these regions? Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission (3 December 1999) The regular publication of regional statistical indicators (e. g. the unemployment rate and gross domestic product) helps highlight a large number of the problems encountered by the ultraperipheral regions at levels 2 or 3 of the NUTS nomenclature (Nomenclature of Territorial Statistical Units). There are no plans in the Community statistical programme to devise specific indicators to analyse the situation in these regions. (2000/C 170 E/157) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1950/99 by Ursula Stenzel (PPE-DE) to the Commission (19 October 1999) Subject: Euroteam ü misuse of EU aid in In its answer of 4 October 1999 to my written question P-1521/99 (1) the Commission states, connection with the Euroteam affair in Austria, that it has contacted the Austrian authorities to obtain information about the measures taken in response to this matter. Can the Commission say whether its enquiries have brought to light any irregularities in the use of EU aid or led to admissions of such irregularities? Can the Commission say what measures were taken in response to this affair? (1) OJ C 27 E, 29. 1. 2000, p. 107. 20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/131 Answer by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (24 November 1999) The Commission contacted the Austrian authorities on 3 September 1999 to ascertain what action had been taken in the event that Community aid had been misused by the Euroteam Vienna Groupí for training purposes and, more particularly, the corrective measures taken by the Federal Ministry for Labour, Health and Social Affairs. This letter has remained unanswered. According to the information available, the Vienna public prosectorís department is still investigating the activities of the Euroteam Vienna Groupí while the national audit office ( Rechnungshofí) is carrying out an inspection ( Gebarungsüberprüfungí) involving local enquiries ( Vorortsprüfungí). A draft report will not be submitted until early next year. (2000/C 170 E/158) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1951/99 by Helle Thorning-Schmidt (PSE) to the Commission (19 October 1999) Subject: Equality between registered partnerships and marriage in connection with employment regulations In connection with the Staff Regulations, when does the Commission intend to bring in equality between registered partnerships (marriage between two persons of the same sex in accordance with the relevant Member State rules) and marriage between two persons of different sexes so that, as soon as possible, European Community employees living in a registered partnership and their families can enjoy the same rights under the Staff Regulations as married employees? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1999) In their current form the staff regulations relating to officials and other servants of the European Communities are specific in linking certain welfare rights and allowances to the status of ámarriedí persons. in such provision would require amendment to the text of various Including áregistered partnershipsí existing provisions of the staff regulations and such changes would have to take the form of a Council Regulation. As the Honourable Member will know, differences exist in the laws of Member States in relation to ámarriageí and áregistered partnershipsí, whether heterosexual or homosexual, as regulated and recognised in law in some Member States. In 1997 the Commission adopted various measures that gave some recognition to ástable relationshipsí so as to be able to grant heterosexual and homosexual non-married couples (officials or other servants) a number of administrative facilities that are not covered by the staff regulations and are neutral in money terms. In this connection, the Williamsoní groupís report on modernising the staff regulations suggests that the Commission should give thought to the issue of áregistered partnershipsí and to their potential recognition. In the light of the contents of that document, and in the context of the current deliberations on reform of relevant parts of the staff regulations, the Commission envisages the possibility of tabling a proposal along the lines indicated by the Honourable Member that would also take account of legislation in the Member States. (2000/C 170 E/159) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1956/99 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (5 November 1999) Subject: Amendment of European competition law The Commission plans to amend European competition law so that the current system of investigating prior to authorising mergers will be transformed into one where checks are carried out subsequently. Can the Commission answer the following questions: