WRITTEN QUESTION P-0556/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Protocol on cooperation between the Aquitaine region, the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and the Autonomous Community of Navarre.
C 374 E/104 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 pursued within the European Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). This regulatory framework has also allowed procedures for joint certification and has become part of the Community order by means of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonization of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation (1). At the same time, a level playing field has been created for fair and equal competition of all actors in the Community. A proposal for the establishment of a European organisation (EASA) which will build upon JAA to improve and reinforce it is now under discussion within the Commission. In the field of air traffic management, Eurocontrol develops standards and technical specifications aiming essentially at ensuring interoperability and a seamless operation of national systems. Eurocontrol standards become part of the Community order by means of Council Directive 93/65/EEC of 19 July 1993 on the definition and use of compatible technical specifications for the procurement of air traffic management equipment and systems (2). However, Eurocontrol work is mainly focused at system and air traffic control (ATC) procedures standards and does not cover the full range of requirements related to ATC services, staff and operations. This difference is partly explained by the lack of a European market for ATC and the consequent prevalence of national arrangements, which show significant variations. On the more specific question of common standards governing licences and certificates of competence for air traffic controllers, Eurocontrol is working to introduce a harmonised scheme in the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) area. The Community is closely following this activity, which may lead to an Community directive, as suggested by the Honourable Member. (1) OJ L 373, 31. 12. 1991. (2) OJ L 187, 29. 7. 1993. (2000/C 374 E/120) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0556/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (23 February 2000) Subject: Protocol on cooperation between the Aquitaine region, the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and the Autonomous Community of Navarre In 1980 France and Spain signed an agreement in Bayonne, France, paving the way for regional cross- border cooperation. On 3 October 1989, in Bordeaux, the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country and the Aquitaine region signed a protocol on cooperation formalising cross-border relations between them. They were subsequently joined by the Autonomous Community of Navarre on 13 February 1992, when a new protocol was signed. The objectives of that protocol are: ü to exchange information and harmonise the policies pursued by the three regions to develop infrastructure in the communications, training, economic, social, research and cultural fields, where the said policies overlap; ü to reach agreement on the framing and development of projects of joint interest; and ü to foster cooperation between public-sector, professional and private-sector bodies in the three regions. On 25 January last the Government of the Autonomous Community of Navarre decided unilaterally to withdraw from the protocol on cooperation, citing political differences of no relevance to issues in the areas covered by the protocol. Does the Commission believe that the development of cross-border cooperation between these three regions could suffer as a result of this move, especially bearing in mind that the new Interreg Community initiative will strengthen such cooperation? Will the Commission say whether the subsidies and aid currently received by the Autonomous Community of Navarre for projects under the said protocol are now in jeopardy? 28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/105 Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (17 March 2000) During the new programming period for the Structural Funds (2000-2006), the Interreg Community Initiative will cover only projects which are of a genuine cross-border and transnational nature and which form part of a cooperation programme drawn up jointly by the appropriate authorities on both sides of the border. this programme will have to be implemented by joint cooperation structures: a joint In addition, Monitoring Committee, steering committee and management/payment authority for the Member States and frontier regions covered by the Interreg programme. The establishment of these joint cooperation structures is therefore a condition for the implementation of Interreg and a condition of admissibility and approval of the programme by the Commission. In this context, it is clear that agreements and bilateral protocols of cooperation, such as the Bayonne agreement mentioned by the Honourable Member, can prove very useful for the creation and consolida- tion of the joint Interreg structures. The France/Spain cross-border programme is currently being completed and is in no way affected by the decisions taken by the government of the Comunidad Foral of Navarre. At this stage, it is not possible to forecast how the new Interreg III Community Initiative will be implemented in these regions since the Commission will soon adopt its guidelines on this topic. The Member States and regions concerned will then be invited to prepare proposals for operational programmes. (2000/C 374 E/121) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0557/00 by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission (29 February 2000) Subject: Procedures for dismissals In view of the Commissionís reply to my Written Question E-2225/99 (1) that it had dismissed eleven people in the last five years, does it take the view that its procedures for dismissal are (a) comparable with those of other employers in the public and private sectors, and (b) adequate to deal with disciplinary problems? If not, how does it intend to improve them? (1) OJ C 203 E, 18. 7. 2000, p. 151. Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (30 March 2000) The Commission draws the attention of the disciplinary procedures set out in the Staff Regulations and which allow inter alia, for dismissal of officials, apply to all European Institutions. the Honourable Member to the fact that The Commission is aware of the existence of a variety of different rules for disciplinary actions in Member Statesí civil services. In the course of preparing its consultative document on discipline and its draft Decision on administrative improvements to disciplinary procedures, both scheduled for October 2000 (see Action Plan of 1 March 2000, action 57/58), the Commission will take into account best practices in Member States and international organisations for dismissal procedures and for disciplinary procedures as a whole. Disciplinary procedures in certain professions and administrations in the private sector may also have relevance, in so far as they are comparable. As the Commission made clear in the White Paper on Reforming the Commissioní (1) (see Chapter IV. 5 Disciplineí) it is aware of the shortcomings of the current system which áis too slow, has many layers of procedure and is based around a disciplinary board that varies in composition and is purely internal. Staff are not sufficiently well-informed about their obligations and the possible consequences of breaches of the rulesí. The Commission will make specific proposals for changing the Staff Regulations in order to