WRITTEN QUESTION P-0604/00 by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Budget heading B7-6000.
26. 1. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 26 E/69 Article 3 of the Directive. The Italian epidemiological centre for the region of Veneto has, in co-operation with the national reference laboratory for avian influenza, published an operational manual (2) in case of occurrence of avian influenza. This manual comprises the different methods for the killing of different types of poultry flocks. Carcasses of dead birds were either buried or taken to rendering plants. (1) OJ L 340, 31. 12. 1993. (2) Manuale Operativo in caso di Influenza aviaria, Anno 1999, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Centro Regionale Epidemiologia Veterinaria Regione Veneto, Laboratorio Nazionale di Riferimento Influenza aviaria. (2001/C 26 E/086) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0603/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Setting up the Southwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (3 March 2000) The EU is taking part in the talks on setting up the Southwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation, a new multilateral body for fishing in West African waters. Since the fishing industry may be affected by this new body, what position will the EU be adopting with regard to consulting the industry? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (27 April 2000) The Commission takes care to consult the fishing industry when preparing for negotiations within the international fishery organisations. For instance, it organised a meeting (Brussels, 17 March) to consult the organisations with an interest in the work of the Resource Allocation Group of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Such consultation would be premature in the case of the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organisation since the instruments to establish it are only at the preparatory stage. The industry will be consulted when it has been set up. (2001/C 26 E/087) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0604/00 by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission (25 February 2000) Subject: Budget heading B7-6000 1. Will the Commission list all projects submitted under the abovementioned budget heading for the years 1998 and 1999? 2. Will it list all projects which have received funding under the abovementioned budget heading for the years 1998 and 1999? 3. Will it indicate the timescale and details of the selection procedure used for projects submitted under the budget heading in question? C 26 E/70 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 26. 1. 2001 Finally, will it give details of the progress of the project entitled Improving health conditions in 4. 24 villages in the diocese of Daloa ü Costa DíAvorioí, which was submitted on 7 May 1999 and given the reference ONG/PVD/1998/IT, but in respect of which the organisers have so far received no reply from the Commission? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (30 March 2000) The Commission is forwarding direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat General of the Parliament lists of all those projects which have been submitted under this budget line for the years 1998 and 1999 and of those which received funding. The Commission tries to respect the limit of six months for decision on projects laid down in Council Regulation No 1658 of 17 July 1998. New management measures are being put into place in the year 2000 to try to ensure respect of this six month deadline. However in recent years this has not been possible due to the numbers of projects received and insufficiency of staff resources. Moreover the majority of non governmental organisation (NGO) proposals require further dialogue following comments and suggestions received from the Commission delegations, geographic units and technical experts which can lead to further delays. In the past, the selection procedure was on the basis of an assessment of each project by the delegation, geographic unit and technical experts. A decision was made to accept or reject the project on the basis of these assessments. In some cases a project is rejected because of the clear ineligibility of the NGO or project under the general conditions for cofinancing. New general conditions for cofinancing were agreed by the Commission in January 2000. In the future, implementing the recommendations of the vade mecum on grant management, the Commission will use a call for proposals with the establishment of selection committees. However, consultation of the delegations and the geographic units will continue to play an important role. There is at present a carry over of approximately 926 projects from 1999 for a value of 317,6 M€. It is intended to process these in the first half of 2000. Decisions made will be verified by selection committees in the pre-selection and final selection phase following consultations with the delegations and geographic units. The project referred to (ONG/PVD/1998/258) is under appraisal but had to be carried over from 1999 due to lack of funds. A decision will be made in the first half of 2000. The NGOs are being kept fully informed of developments in the management of the budget line through the Commissionís own recently established web-site for NGOs (europa. eu. int/comm/development) and through the liaison committee of NGOs and its national platforms. (2001/C 26 E/088) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0607/00 by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission (3 March 2000) Subject: EU social and economic protection cover for Malagaís shellfishers Over five hundred shellfishers have been affected by the Andalusian regional governmentís decision to close off four fishing grounds in the province of Malaga because the toxicity levels in shellfish caught there makes them unfit for consumption