WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/00 by Ole Krarup (EDD) to the Commission. EU defence aspirations.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/37 (2001/C 53 E/040) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0878/00 by Ole Krarup (EDD) to the Commission (22 March 2000) Subject: EU defence aspirations At the Helsinki EU Summit in December it was decided to equip the Union for civilian and military crisis management by measures including the establishment of a 50 000-60 000-strong rapid reaction force. The Portuguese Presidency has said in this context that building up the EUís future capabilities will affect both our defence budgets and our public opinion (Presidency invitation to the governments of the Member States for the discussion of the Unionís defence policy aspirations, 28 February 2000). What increases in the Member Statesí defence budgets is the build-up of EU military capabilities expected to entail? Please show the overall percentage increase and a breakdown with the extra spending for each Member State. Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (3 May 2000) The military headline goal announced at the Helsinki European Council will certainly require a concerted effort on the part of the Member States. It should be noted, though, that military expenditure is the sole responsibility of Member States themselves. Questions concerning national defence budgets should there- fore rightfully be addressed to the Member States. For its part, and within its specific areas of competence, the Commission will contribute fully to the achievement of the objectives of ESDP, including the realisation of the headline goals. This is right and proper, since there is clearly an umbilical link between the military and non-military dimensions of conflict prevention, conflict resolution and crisis management. The Commission has considerable experience and extensive responsiblities in the non-military field. (2001/C 53 E/041) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0896/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (22 March 2000) Subject: Contamination caused by a concrete factory in the municipality of O Corgo (Lugo, Galicia) A concrete factory is currently being constructed in O Corgo (Lugo, Galicia) without a building and operating permit having been granted. This factory discharges 7 500 litres of contaminated water a day into the Chamoso and Da Lama rivers, on whose banks the authorities are building a beach. Given that the river beach project is being implemented with the support of Community funds (Proder programme: Programme for rural development and diversification of rural areas, partially financed by EAGGF Guarantee Section funds and the ERDF for the period 1996-1999, this particular project being supervised by the Proder Minho of the Lugo local government), does the Commission not consider that the EU must intervene to ensure that environmental protection standards are respected? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (24 May 2000) Projects part-financed from Community funds must satisfy the rules on environmental protection and improvement in force, notably those of Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 laying down general provisions on