WRITTEN QUESTION E-1709/99 by Hervé Novelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Inconsistency between European regional policy and the French authorities' decisions.
C 219 E/18 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 (2000/C 219 E/024) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1709/99 by HervØ Novelli (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 September 1999) Subject: Inconsistency between European regional policy and the French authoritiesí decisions The department of Indre-et-Loire is currently under consideration as regards the new zones for application of the reform of European regional policy. The commune of Nouâtre in the canton of Sainte-Maure, which used to be eligible under ERDF Objective 5(b), could now come under Objective 2. However, at the same time, the French authorities have decided to close a large part of the Nouâtre military base, which employs about 400 people, including 250 civilians, which will be a severe blow to the local economy. For instance, the Nouâtre secondary school, which takes the children of employees at the base, may be threatened with closure in the fairly near future. 1. Does not the Commission think that there is an unacceptable contradiction between its regional policy objectives in Indre-et-Loire and the French authoritiesí decision, taken without any consultation, concerning a commune in the same department? Does not the Commission think that it should intervene with the French Government to resolve this 2. inconsistency? 3. More generally, does the Commission know of other, similar cases and what measures will it take to prevent contradictions of this kind in the future? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1999) It is not up to the Commission to intervene in the decisions of the French authorities concerning the location of military bases or, more generally, to express views about the restructuring of the defence sector. According to Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (1), Objective 2 of the Funds is to support the economic and social conversion of areas facing structural difficulties. Article 4 of the Regulation goes on to stipulate that Community assistance under this Objective ámay extend to areas facing or threatened by serious structural problems on account of relevant, verifiable characteristics, or a high level of unemployment arising from an ongoing or industrial or service sectorí. This planned restructuring of one or more activities in the agricultural, determining activity can be a military base, the closure of which would have a substantial negative impact on the area in terms of jobs. Envisaging eligibility for Objective 2 for this type of area does not therefore run counter to the terms of the Regulation. It is, however, up to the national authorities to propose to the Commission the areas which they wish to benefit from Objective 2. The Commission, acting in close co-operation with the Member State, will then draw up the list of the areas eligible for this Objective for the period 2000-2006 and will ensure that these areas are the ones most affected by problems of socio-economic restructuring. (1) OJ L 161, 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 219 E/025) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1712/99 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 September 1999) Subject: Rules on egg collection In northern Sweden, the distances between producers and the central depot where the eggs are quality- controlled and packed are extreme. Before accession to the EU, the eggs were collected once a week and