WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/99 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Support for action to combat drug dependence amongst young people.
C 303 E/104 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 The Czech Republic is not eligible for support for Interreg II, as this Community initiative only finances expenditure incurred within Member States. Measures funded under this initiative are however closely co- ordinated with PHARE activities. An indirect benefit is therefore derived by the Czech Republic, e. g. through a reduction in pollution levels in its rivers, forests or air, through action taken under Interreg II on the German or Austrian side of the border. Finally the Czech Republic has benefited from various multi country programmes in the area of the environment, in particular the Black Triangle projects which focused mainly on small demonstration projects aimed at improving the quality of the environment in the Czech and Polish part of the Black Triangle. (2000/C 303 E/099) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2746/99 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) and Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Appointment of a Greek Director-General at the Commission (18 January 2000) The Commission is responsible for 36 Directorates-General and departments. Following the recent changes nationals of the following Member States have been appointed to head them: United Kingdom (eight), France (seven), Germany (six), Italy (four), Denmark (three), Spain (two), Netherlands (one), Sweden (one), Finland (one), Belgium (one) and Luxembourg (one). As of 1 January 2000 there will be no Director- General or Head of any of these 36 important departments from Greece (or two other small countries), although there was Greek representation until the only Greek Director-General, Mr Spyros Pappas, was removed ü somewhat unjustifiably, as it turns out. Can the Commission explain this unfair treatment, which discriminates against Greece, Portugal and Ireland and favours certain large countries, particularly the United Kingdom? Can it state whether there will be a Greek Director-General or Head of any of its Directorates-General or departments in the immediate future, and if so, to which of them the person concerned will be appointed? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (24 February 2000) The Commission has taken note of the concern expressed by the Honourable Members, although it would not be accurate to say that any treatment of the issues raised in their question has been unfair or discriminatory. The Commission reaffirms its ambition, reflected in its decision of 8 December 1999 on appointments to senior management posts in the Commission, to make appointments on merit whilst maintaining a broad balance of all Member Statesí nationalities at all levels of staff within the Institution in order to ensure the essential cultural diversity and cohesion of the European public service. To this end, the Commission has specifically stated its desire that suitably qualified civil servants from each Member State nationality are appointed at Grade A1 level as Director-Generals, Heads of Department or similar. In the very nature of civil service appointments systems in all Institutions, the Commission is never in a position to state which person from which nationality will be appointed to which head of service position before the conclusion of the appropriate appointments procedures. (2000/C 303 E/100) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/99 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Support for action to combat drug dependence amongst young people Rural east Northamptonshire is a relatively prosperous area of the East Midlands but it has a substantial problem with youth drug abuse. The British Government has chosen not to include the county in its 24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/105 proposals for the allocation of structural funds and the money available through the EU Action Plan on Drug Dependence is apparently allocated to large-scale professional projects with an EU dimension. Therefore, what practical support, financial or otherwise, can the Commission offer to a group of local residents who are committed to tackling this serious and growing problem? Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (15 February 2000) The Commission acknowledges the fact that local communities form an important resource in any effort to tackle the drugs problem. Perhaps the best possibility for local residents of rural East Northamptonshire to receive practical support for their activities would be to contact a national organisation like e. g. ADFAM (National Helpline for Families and Friends of Drug Users). They can share their experience with the local people and provide them with contact information on similar kinds of projects elsewhere in Europe. ADFAM is a member of a network of European Drug Helplines financed by the European Community Programme for drug prevention. This programme has been the main source of Community funding for drug prevention in 1996-2000. The programme has funded the setting up and practical work of many of these European networks as well as prevention projects with a European dimension. Many networks offer useful advice and support for local level activities. They also share information on experience on best practices in drug prevention. At the moment, the Commission is investigating possibilities to prolong the Drug Community Programme for drug prevention by two years. Information on evaluated European drug demand reduction projects is also available in the Internet through the web site of the European monitoring centre for drugs and drug addiction (http://www. emcd- da. org/). This offers a valuable tool for learning from experience of similar kinds of projects elsewhere in the Community. Innovative projects with a high degree of local community involvement are also being funded through the Community initiative employment (e. g. Integra and Youthstart). The Employment initiative aims at helping people with special difficulties in finding or keeping a suitable job. Although the Employment initiative is not drug specific, the projects funded do often have a strong preventive influence. The majority of Employment projects are coming to an end in the course of the year 2000. The preventive and innovative approach will however be pursued in the new Community initiative EQUAL for the period 2000-2006. Project information can be found on the Employment web site www. europs. be. (2000/C 303 E/101) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2757/99 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Administrative simplification On 29 April 1999 the Commission submitted to the Council an action plan, which was supported by all the Member States, to improve the administrative environment for business and remove the unnecessary burdens hampering the competitiveness of European undertakings. Can the Commission say what response its initiative has received in the various Member States? What specific measures has it adopted to improve the competitiveness of undertakings?