WRITTEN QUESTION E-0588/00 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission. European sustainable transport policy.
20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/11 The Commission is fully aware of the problems of modern farming practices. Following the need for a more flexible framework to use certain substances in particular feed additives in other ways than the inclusion in feedingstuffs, a proposal (5) was presented in July 1997 to the Parliament and to the Council, on the use of nutritional supplements for animals. These supplements are preparations likely to contain high levels of minerals, trace elements, vitamins, amino acids, etc. which may be administered orally over a very short period in the form of an individual dose in drinking water or via daily feed. On the proposal, amended by the Parliament in first reading in September 1999, the Council has not yet adopted a common position. (1) OJ L 125, 23. 5. 1996. (2) OJ L 86, 6. 4. 1979. (3) OJ L 270, 14. 12. 1970. (4) OJ L 235, 17. 9. 1996. (5) OJ C 298, 30. 9. 1997. (2001/C 53 E/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0588/00 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (29 February 2000) Subject: European sustainable transport policy How can the Member States speed up the implementation of the priority projects defined at the Essen summit? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (2 May 2000) In the Commissionís report to the Cardiff European Council (1) in 1998, it was stated that three of the 14 Essen projects are near completion (around 2000). Six other projects are due for completion around 2005 and financing is largely in place. Out of the remaining five projects three are corridor projects (multimodal link Portugal/Spain Europe, Nordic Triangle and Ireland-United Kingdom-Benelux road link) which makes it very difficult to establish firm overall timetables and financing plans because the corridors consist of a large number of smaller projects. For the remaining two projects, namely the high speed train (HST) North-South and HST Lyon-Trieste construction has started on several important sections of the projects, but there are still financial problems and delays on some sections e. g. the two Alpine crossings. According to the timetables and financial forecasts submitted by the Member States to the Commission, there will be a very substantial increase in expenditure on the 14 priority projects during the period 2000-2006, with many of the larger projects moving into the full construction phase. For the few remaining sections of the 14 priority projects where a firm timetable and financing have not yet been found, a combination of public and private finance is needed, together with the Member States giving higher priority to these specific projects in their national planning. A detailed overview of the state of completion on each project will be presented in the forthcoming proposal for the revision of the Trans-European network (TEN) guidelines. Concrete steps need to be taken, on a case by case basis as a matter of urgency, to agree the parameters and the mechanisms for the implementation of these private-public partnerships (PPPs). If this is done, it can help to achieve more rapid implementation and better value-for-money. A firm commitment is needed from Member States if the private sector is to invest in the development of suitable financial instruments C 53 E/12 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 and approaches. The Commission will continue to work with the European investment bank (EIB) and European investment the different Community instruments in fund (EIF) supporting PPPs, particularly on the 14 priority projects. to ensure effective use of (1) COM(98) 356. (2001/C 53 E/014) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0595/00 by Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 February 2000) Subject: Misuse by the Turkish Parliament of aid donations for earthquake victims The Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported on 22 January 2000 that money from funds set up to help the earthquake victims had been used to purchase 35 Renault Laguna cars for Members of the Turkish Parliament at a total cost of 500 billion Turkish liras. Can the Commission say how EU appropriations have been used, in which funds they were placed and whether any misuse, notably for the purpose indicated above, can be ruled out? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (19 April 2000) On 17 August 1999, a major earthquake hit the Marmara region of Turkey. The Commission, via ECHO ü the Humanitarian Aid Office ü immediately responded by taking two separate funding decisions of € 2 million each. On 12 November 1999 a second major earthquake hit the Bolu region of Turkey. The Commission again responded by allocating the sum of € 3 million. On 20 December 1999 a final funding decision of € 23 million was adopted by the Commission thus bringing the overall amount of allocations to be managed by ECHO for victims of the earthquakes in Turkey to € 30 million. With regard to the newspaper article referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission has not had the opportunity to read this account. In any event, there appears to be no evidence that the donations referred to in that article derive from Community funds. It should be emphasised that none of the contracts concluded with ECHO partners in Turkey include the provision of motor vehicles to government officials. It may be useful to recall the various safeguards put in place to reduce the risk of misappropriations. ECHOís programmes in Turkey include the provision of temporary shelter, distribution of medicines and hygiene packs, the provision of post-trauma counselling and disaster preparedness. ECHO works on the basis of a framework partnership agreement (FPA) with organisations which include non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UN bodies and the Red Cross and Red Crescent family. Partners are expected to be experienced in the field of humanitarian assistance and must adhere to the criteria outlined in Council Regulation No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid (1) in order to qualify to accede to the FPA. ECHO earmarks allocations to partners on the basis of project proposals. When these project proposals are approved, contracts which itemise the work to be carried out are concluded with the partner. According to the terms of the contracts, the partners are prohibited from deviating from the actions included in the operational contracts. Deviations may call for a recovery of funds. In addition and in accordance with the financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the Communities, the humanitarian organisation shall give Commission departments or any organisation mandated by the Commission and the Court of auditors access to its accounts at any given moment. Invoices justifying expenses incurred during the life of a programme are kept at partnersí headquarters for a period of five years during which they can be consulted for auditing purposes