WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/99 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding of programmes in the field of energy under the Fifth framework programme for research.
C 203 E/144 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 How many of the projects selected are concerned with literature in Galician? What are they, and how much budgetary funding are they to receive? With regard to 1997 and 1998, how many works in Galician were subsidised under the Ariane programme, and what was the total number of literature subsidised? What were they, and how much funding did they receive? What was the final figure for total Ariane expenditure for 1997 and 1998? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (21 December 1999) In 1999 the total budget allocated to the Ariane programme was € 4,1 million. 12 projects involving translation of French and English literature into Galician were submitted. Eleven of them did not get past the preselection stage, as they did not comply with certain eligibility criteria listed in the Official Journal (1), while one project, although it passed the Commissionís formal preselection scrutiny, was not included among the final choice of projects accepted. The limited financial resources were sufficient only to cover the projects with the greatest literary and cultural merits in the view of the group of independent experts from several Member States and member countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA), who assisted the Commission with the selection of projects. In 1998 (when the total budget allocated to the programme was ECU 3,3 million), no projects involving translation of works of literature into Galician were submitted. In 1997 (when the total budget allocated to the programme was ECU 2,3 million), one project involving translation of a French literary work into Galician was presented and selected. This was an application for funding to cover translation into Galician of Les Motsí by J. P. Sartre, submitted by Ediciones Laiovento, to whom a grant for the full amount requested (ECU 2 418) was awarded. (1) OJ C 23, 28. 1. 1999. (2000/C 203 E/183) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2151/99 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Funding of programmes in the field of energy under the Fifth framework programme for research According to information received by some Finnish firms, the Commission has adopted a different position from Parliament and the Council on the funding of programmes in the field of energy in the context of the Fifth framework programme for research. Under the common position agreed upon last December by Parliament and the Council, ádemonstration projectsí are accorded a central role in research policy. Initially 75 % of the funding was reserved for them. However, what is now happening in practice is that the Commission is outlining a paltry level of funding for demonstration projects in relation to other research projects. Is the Commission adopting a different position from the European Parliament and the Council on the funding of demonstration projects in the energy field within the Fifth research framework programme, and if so, why? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (17 December 1999) The Commission would first clarify the interpretation of the remarks made by the Council and Parliament on the 1999 budget for the Fifth research and technological development (RDT) framework programme (1). 18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/145 In its commentary, the budgetary authority, at the initiative of the Parliament, requested that 60 % of credits for non-nuclear energy should be allocated to renewable energies, of which 75 % should be allocated to renewable demonstration projects. The Commission agrees that there is an urgent need to encourage the demonstration of solutions which favour the use of innovative renewable energy resources and would like to satisfy the commentary as far as practicable. The first call for proposals for the Energy programme (energy component of the energy, environment and sustainable development specific RDT programme) duly gave considerable prominence to demonstration projects and renewable energies. In selecting the final list of projects for which an immediate start to negotiations is recommended, the Commission has taken the budget commentary into account. The Commission has done its utmost to satisfy the commentary and a large number of demonstration projects in the renewables sector has been selected. The final decision on 1999 projects has not yet been made but the Commission proposal is very close to the budget commentary. (1) OJ C 173, 7. 6. 1997. (2000/C 203 E/184) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2154/99 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Regionalisation of the Italian State Corps of Foresters In Italy, conservation of woodlands and natural resources is the responsibility of a police force, the State Corps of Foresters. Law 59/97, however, stipulates that members of the corps are to be transferred to the service of the regions if they are not needed in order to carry out the tasks still incumbent on the State. Although it has been estimated that very substantial manpower is required to enable the State to perform its role, about 70 % of the personnel concerned have nevertheless been transferred to the service of the regions. importance of environmental protection and the body of Given the international as well as national expertise built up by the Corps of Foresters, which is the only means of ensuring compliance with Community environmental regulations and which is in danger of losing its cohesion, would the Com- mission state: 1. whether it considers that the transfer of responsibilities to the regions will greatly weaken the efficiency of the State Corps of Foresters and severely damage environmental protection; 2. whether it has drawn up any documents on the subject; 3. its general views on the matter; 4. what forms of organisation are laid down for similar forces in other Member States? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (16 December 1999) The organisation of the national administration is strictly a matter for the Member State. The Commission considers that the regionalisation of certain tasks does not necessarily involve any reduction in their effectiveness, but that it requires in certain cases a strengthening of coordination between the regions and the Member State. The Commission is not in a position to give an exact description of the organisation of similar services in other Member States. Several situations can arise, from complete decentralisation as, for example, in the management of to responsibility at provincial, departmental, regional or national level. in some Member States, is at municipality level, fire prevention which, forest