WRITTEN QUESTION E-1760/99 by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Poles of Rural Development project in Cameroon implemented by DG VIII.
C 203 E/38 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 What action does it intend to take in the wake of this new murder to ensure that the Greeks Cypriots in the enclave can continue to live there? Does it consider that a full-scale and permanent observation post can be set up in Rizokarpaso to ensure the security of the Greek Cypriots in the enclave? (1) OJ C 132, 28. 4. 1997, p. 226. Answer (24 January 2000) The Council has not received any official information about the incident to which the Honourable Member refers. As far as could be ascertained ü and as the question itself suggests ü Mr Stelios Charpasí violent death was not related to activities by agents of the regime in control of Northern Cyprus. On the contrary, it appears that they cooperated with the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus with a view to taking appropriate action in the wake of Mr Charpasí death. As to the question of setting up an observation post in Rizokarpaso, the Council trusts that the United Nations will fully consider all the relevant aspects and take the right decision. (2000/C 203 E/047) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1757/99 by Manuel PØrez `lvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Reorganising DGs XIV and VI (1 October 1999) Could the Commission give details of the proposal by President Prodi for a possible reorganisation of the Commissionís Directorate-General VI for Agriculture and Directorate-General XIV for Fisheries into a single Directorate-General? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (9 November 1999) The Commission is, at present, undergoing a major re-organization in order to rationalize and improve the service which it provides for the European citizen. This organisation is based on 36 directorates general (DGs) and services, including the Agriculture DG and the Fisheries DG which remain separate DGs under the responsibility of commissioner Fischler. A new Director general of the Fisheries DG was appointed on 1 October 1999, which confirms what Mr Fischler said at his parliamentary hearing in September 1999. In any future reform of the Commission, attention will of course be paid to views already expressed in the Parliament on reform matters. (2000/C 203 E/048) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1760/99 by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (1 October 1999) Subject: Poles of Rural Developmentí project in Cameroon implemented by DG VIII Can the Commission state its position on the following points in relation to the Poles of Rural Developmentí project: 1. What stage (planning, implementation) has the project now reached? 2. Have project assessments been conducted, and if so by whom (internally by Commission departments, or independently)? 18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/39 3. What consequences has the Commission acknowledged from such assessments? Has project planning been amended accordingly? If not, why has the outcome of the assessments not been acted on? 4. Does the Commission see it as a potential source of conflict that where a development project is assessed and restructured, the delegation is both the party inviting tenders and a party itself directly involved? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (16 November 1999) The Poles of Rural Developmentí project began in 1991 in the Bafut region and in the Saía, Ntui and SangmØlima regions at the end of 1992 (financing agreement under the Third LomØ Convention, 6th European Development Fund (EFD), amounting to a total of € 10,3 million). This general approach stresses the importance of teaching people to manage the development of their own community with a view to improving their living conditions and the environment. During 1997 and 1998 a temporary programme was set up in the Saía, Ntui et SangmØlima poles, to link the current project to a second four-year phase. It stressed in particular the projectís viability and the management of agricultural projects and socio-economic infrastructures. The Commission and the national authorising officer agreed to an evaluation at the half-way stage in 1995, and a further evaluation at the end of the temporary programme (1997/1998) in November 1998. They contracted the work out to international consultancy firms on the basis of a restricted consultation. The evaluations have shown that the project has had a positive effect on the communities involved, since participation has helped them take charge of their own micro-projects. Nevertheless, further efforts need to be made to achieve a satisfactory level of participation and to prepare the people better to take control of their communities. On the basis of the results of the independent consultanciesí evaluations, particular emphasis has been placed on viability and the management of agricultural projects and socio-economic infrastructures. The project activities were planned and monitored under two sub-programmes, ongoing actions and new actions. No potential source of conflict exists, due to the fact that in the case of independent evaluations where the project is then altered, while the delegation awards the contract on behalf of the national authority, the latter is still the contracting authority. The results of the evaluation are examined by the Commission delegation and the government, and when the recommendations are pertinent, the changes can be introduced by financial procedures. (2000/C 203 E/049) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1762/99 by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE) and María Rodríguez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission (11 October 1999) Subject: Effects for consumers of the merger of the Carrefour and Promodes companies The planned merger between the Carrefour and Promodes companies is giving rise to great concern among both suppliers and consumers who fear that it will create or strengthen a dominant position in certain key retail markets. The merger will affect a large number of significant geographical markets, and the effects of competition will need to be analysed in all those market with homogeneous competition conditions. This means that consideration will have to be given both to regional markets and to districts in which the undertakings