WRITTEN QUESTION E-0676/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Tourism measures.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/203 The vacant post of Director of ECHO was published on 10 November 1999 by agreement with the private office of the Member responsible for development and humanitarian aid; the final date for applications was 24 November 1999. The Advisory Committee on Appointments (ACA) met on 16 December 1999 to draw up a shortlist of applicants. After in-depth talks, the ACA issued its opinion on 20 January 2000. The Commission decided to appoint Mrs Costanza Adinolfi to the post (PV(2000) 1466 of 15 February 2000). Mrs Adinolfi will take up her duties as Director of ECHO on 15 March 2000. (2000/C 330 E/234) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0676/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: Tourism measures There is frequent criticism from many sources of a lack of coordination of tourism policy within the EU; the reason generally given by the Commission is that the Treaties do not provide sufficient legal basis for such measures. Can the Commission say whether it intends in future to seek better coordination and harmonisation of the Member Statesí existing legislation on tourism? Can the Commission also say what specific measures to promote tourism it has adopted to date, in particular in the area of bed and breakfast, rooms in private houses, holiday accommodation and similar structures, and what action it intends to take in this area in the near future? Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (5 April 2000) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its Communication of 28 April 1999 on in which a new approach is taken concerning the Enhancing tourismís potential for employmentí (1), Communityís tourism activities. This approach is based on knowledge of the tourism sector and market and of its growth and employment potential in promoting conditions which would allow this potential to be sustained in the long term. The method used for this purpose is based on cooperation with the Member States, consultation of the economic and social operators in the tourist industry and coordination of other Community measures and programmes which impact on tourism. The Commission is aware of the many and varied aspects of tourism and regards it as an essential task to consolidate the consistent integration of these aspects with other policies, for example regional policy, transport policy, policies relating to the environment, enterprise, competition, employment and research. The Commission believes that tourist activities at Community level must complement Member Statesí activities and respect the principle of subsidiarity. It does not therefore intend to harmonise the tourism legislation currently in force in the Member States unless this legislation calls the internal market into question. However, since 1996, measures taken by the Member States have been coordinated within the Advisory Committee on Tourism. It is not the responsibility of the Commission to take specific measures concerning particular types of tourism or accommodation. Existing programmes of assistance, for example the Structural Funds, allow the Member Statesí authorities, the regions and the tourism business to support the most appropriate tourist activities. (1) COM(1999) 205 final