WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3834/98 by Paul RÜBIG Impact of international financial turmoil on the European steel market - industrial policy
12. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 325/31 (1999/C 325/037) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3826/98 by James Janssen van Raay (UPE), Niall Andrews (UPE) and José Girão Pereira (UPE) to the Commission (22 December 1998) Subject: Audit of Community funding 1. Is the Commission aware of the criticisms against the Dutch Senator, Mr Jan Nicol Scholten, in his capacity as chairman of the Association of West European Parliamentarians for Action Against Apartheid, the Afrika-Europa Instituut (Africa-Europe Institute), the Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland (Netherlands Refugee Action) and the Refugiado (Refugee) Foundation, made in several reports published in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Ireland in which cases of misappropriation and embezzlement of funds for personal ends were revealed? 2. Has the Commission granted funding to any of the abovementioned bodies? Is it true that, despite the criticisms made in the above countries, the Commission’s assessment of those 3. bodies was favourable? Does the Commission intend to carry out a thorough investigation to discover the truth and ensure that 4. the activities of these bodies are carried out openly? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (4 March 1999) 1. The Commission is aware of criticisms in various newspapers, and in at least one evaluation of Association of west-european parlementarians for action against apartheid (AWEPA) initiated by a group of donors to AWEPA and the Afrika-Europa Instituut (AEI). 2. The Commission has provided funds to AWEPA/AEI for specific projects. 3. and 4. The evaluation report, produced by independent consultants for the Commission, was completed in early December 1998. Copies are sent direct to the Honourable Members and to Parliament’s Secretariat. The evaluation has shown that several significant reforms need to be made by AWEPA/AEI, but there is no finding of fraudulent use of funds. This conclusion confirms the results of the financial audit carried out in 1997 and the recommendations which are gradually being put into place. The Commission has already taken steps to ensure that AWEPA fully respects all the conditions applicable to the funds it has provided for specific projects to AWEPA/AEI. As is normal in this type of case, it will insist that AWEPA takes on board the recommendations of the evaluation as a precondition to any further funding. (1999/C 325/038) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3834/98 by Paul Rübig (PPE) to the Commission (22 December 1998) Subject: Impact of international financial turmoil on the European steel market : industrial policy The international steel trade faces new challenges; three major regions of the world : Russia, South-East Asia and Latin America : are facing economic problems. The consequences of this are twofold: the shift in traditional trade flows has led to massive increases in imports into Europe, with a 520 % rise in imports from Asia and a 109 % rise in imports from the USA in 1998, and the concentration of markets has resulted in a fall in European exports, exacerbated by a tendency towards regional protectionism. European steel producers have so far coped successfully with this development. What is now needed above all is some prospect of an industrial policy for this sector. What information is the Commission gathering for the European framework for the steel industry and its structures? How can the competitiveness of the steel sector be improved?