WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2757/98 by Richard CORBETT to the Commission. Riverside Housing Association, Merseyside
21. 5. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 142/37 Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (23 October 1998) As the Honourable Member rightly points out, in 1997 the Commission began infringement 1. proceedings against France for failure of its hunting seasons to comply with the provisions of Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds. (1) The opening and closing dates for hunting in France do not guarantee complete protection of bird species during their return to their breeding grounds and during nesting and rearing. On 24 June 1998, the Commission decided to notify a reasoned opinion against France, which is the second step in the infringement procedure under Article 169 of the EC Treaty. In announcing this decision, the Commission stated that the proceedings pre-date the legislative changes which have been adopted by the French Parliament and that it feared that these changes, which consolidate the shortcomings of the system, may exacerbate problems regarding the French hunting season. (2) The reasoned opinion was notified on 5 August 1998 with a period of two months for compliance. In addition, the Commission does not have the power to introduce urgent measures itself. Under Article 186 of the EC Treaty ‘the Court of Justice may in any cases before it prescribe any necessary interim measures’. Since this case has not been brought before the Court, the Commission cannot ask for urgent measures to be taken at this stage. 2. Yes. 3. Article 169 of the EC Treaty gives a Member State the opportunity to comply with a reasoned opinion within the period laid down in it. It is only at the end of this period that the Commission may decide to bring the matter before the Court if no measures have been taken to comply with the opinion. (1) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979. (2) Press release of 24 June 1998 (IP/98/562). (1999/C 142/044) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2757/98 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission (10 September 1998) Subject: Riverside Housing Association, Merseyside Can the Commission confirm that the Riverside Housing Association has received nearly £30 000 from the ESF apparently for training its own staff? Is the Commission aware that RHAs Chief Executive is retiring early and has been given a ‘golden handshake’ of about £200 000? Does the Commission consider, in light of the European funding that it has received, that this Association is making best use of its ESF grants? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (10 November 1998) The Riverside Housing Association obtained £22,149 of European social fund (ESF) co-funding for one project that ran in 1997 under the 1994-1999 objective 1 programme in Merseyside. There is no indication that these funds were misused. The project involved the upgrading of the employees’ skills