WRITTEN QUESTION E-2377/99 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission. Tied aid.
C 225 E/118 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 (2000/C 225 E/125) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2374/99 by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Implementation of programme for tourism under the CSF for Greece What progress has been made in implementing the subprogramme for tourism forming part of the operational programme for tourism and culture within the Community support framework for Greece (take-up, any delays, cuts, etc. )? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (19 January 2000) Financial implementation of the Tourism and cultureí operational programme (OP) of the Community support framework for Greece for the 19941999 programming period improved appreciably during 1999, mainly thanks to an amendment to its contents and to reallocation of Community aid between the two subprogrammes on átourismí and ácultureí. The new detailed financing plans will be annexed to the Commission Decision which will be signed soon. This amendment will result EUR 520,1 million. in a reduction in the overall budget for this OP of about 34 %, to Community aid will be increased by EUR 5,9 million (2,6 %), (a reduction of EUR 16 million for tourism and an increase of EUR 21,9 million for culture). The absorption rate on the ground currently stands at 59,1 % (EUR 307,7 million). The various adjustments listed above make it likely that all the commitment appropriations will be used. (2000/C 225 E/126) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2377/99 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Tied aid Following the measures taken by the Netherlands and British Ministers for Development with a view to the untying of aid from their development budgets and promoting local industry, could the Commission clarify what steps it has take to support private sector capacities in developing countries by increasing the the local private sector to local access of international competition? thereby promoting exposure of firms to aid contracts, Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (6 January 2000) The Communityís policy has always been based on a wide participation of bidders from the beneficiary and Member States in aid contracts. Special efforts were undertaken, successfully, aiming to increase such participation. The future partnership agreement between the Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries will continue to represent a highly untied aid agreement, open to all signatories of the Convention and containing dispositions for preferential treatment of ACP companies in the competi- tion for aid contracts. 8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/119 in order to improve the private sector competitiveness in developing countries, the More generally, Commission has introduced a new strategy of support to private sector development in 1998. This strategy is based on the comprehensive approach aiming to improve the business environment, the local, financial and private sector, institutions and the capacities of individual companies (1). For the implementation of its strategy the Commission provides a number of supporting facilities to ACP countries. For the analysis of the business climate in the ACP countries the programme Diagnos is introduced to help design a country or region-level strategy with emphasis on the determination of reform policies, but also including support at intermediary and micro levels. A demand-driven, cost-sharing facility, the Community- ACP business assistance scheme (EBAS) aims at increasing competitiveness of ACP enterprises and strengthening the capacity of private sector and non-financial intermediaries. To foster inward investment and economic co-operation, the programme Proinvest (under preparation), will aim at encouraging continuity and sustainability in investment and partnership promotion as a catalyst for business-to-business co-operation. Moreover, each country or region may in addition have included allocations for private sector development in the national or regional indicative programmes. to the private sector runs in collaboration and co-ordination with the The Commissionís support instruments provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the ACP-EC Centre for the development of industry (CDI). Both institutions will have an enlarged mandate under the post LOME convention that is currently under negotiation. Co-ordination is sought with other donors, in particular with Member States, in implementing the strategy. Finally, it should be kept in mind, that the difference between Member States aid and the Commissionís aid on this point is, that Community aid is tendered in all 15 Member States (in addition to what is mentioned above). (1) COM(98) 667 final. (2000/C 225 E/127) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2383/99 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Regulation on exclusive purchasing obligations A new European regulation seeks to make exclusive purchasing obligations impossible for products and services if the suppliers in question have a market share greater than 30 %. However, the proposed regulation threatens to make exclusivity contracts the norm. Very few suppliers have a market share in excess of 30 %. For example, owners of cafØs and public houses would be tied to one supplier not only for drinks but also for all other goods and services which they need. 1. What were the economic arguments for the abovementioned draft regulation? What persuaded the Commission to draft this regulation? 2. Does the Commission have a (detailed) breakdown of exclusive purchasing obligations in the fifteen Member States? If so, what contracts and what (percentage) shares of the market are involved? If not, does not the regulation risk producing the opposite effect in view of the 30 % threshold that is applied?