WRITTEN QUESTION E-1623/99 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission. Emergency aid for Kosovo.
C 219 E/12 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 (2000/C 219 E/016) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1623/99 by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission (15 September 1999) Subject: Emergency aid for Kosovo As part of the reconstruction of Kosovo contracts worth millions have been awarded and they are, quite rightly, financed by the EU. Efficient action is needed to relieve the most pressing problems. Nevertheless, even with emergency aid there is no room for measures which are inappropriate, uneconomical or which squander money. Can the Commission answer the following questions: 1. What procedure is being used for awarding contracts for reconstruction? 2. How long do the contracts have to be published before they are actually awarded? 3. Where can information on these contracts be obtained? 4. What are the objective criteria for awarding these contracts? 5. How many EU project managers are involved in the Kosovo reconstruction programme? 6. How many individual projects are there for the reconstruction of Kosovo financed by the EU? 7. What is the level of costs for individual projects? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (19 October 1999) The Commission has established a task force for Kosovo (TAFKO) for the implementation of reconstruc- tion and structural assistance. The task force is composed of a team of 21 Commission officials with a group of experts and local staff, making all together currently more than 40. Delegated authority for the signature of contracts and payment orders has been given to the head of the task force. The award of contracts will be carried out in accordance with the Obnova financial regulation. For a company to participate it must be registered in a Member State of the Community or in one of the Obnova beneficiary countries. Companies of countries benefiting from the PHARE programme may also be authorised on a case-by-case basis. Possible implementation of the first Community contributions is foreseen through local companies or those of the immediate surrounding region in order to ensure speedy delivery of assistance as well as to help restart the local economy. International tenders will be published in the relevant Community publications and in particular on the website of the Community and the World Bank http://www. seerecon. org. All projects financed by the Community are identified in close collaboration with the United Nations interim administration in Kosovo (UNMIK) administration and Kosovo force (KFOR). Humanitarian assistance to the region (specifically relating to the Kosovo crisis) provided through ECHO has been up to now € 378 million. Also € 10 million of projects were initiated in 1998 for the benefit of the Kosovo province, feed and the reconstruction of Pristina University. focussing on emergency rehabilitation (timber supply), animal The total budgetary allocation for TAFKO activities in Kosovo during 1999 is € 137 million of which € 46 million has been committed to date on the International management group (IMG) damage assessment (€ 3,5 million), the administrative and technical assistance (ATA) facility (€ 6 million), to provide technical support, procurement for rehabilitation of dwellings and public buildings which will permit the shelter of a maximum number of returnees (€ 14 million), support to essential public utilities (repairs, salaries, equipment, € 9 million), demining (€ 4 million), to help restore a customs service (€ 3 million), small scale operations for rapid response to local initiatives (€ 1 million), village employment and rehabilitation programme (VERP) to address the high level of unemployment and the effects of the war (€ 4,5 million) In addition, a project, of high importance and symbolic value, has been launched, the rehabilitation of Mitrovica hospital (€ 1 million). 1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/13 Priorities for a third tranche of Commission and UNMIK. Main priorities include public administration, development. funding under 1999 programme have been identified between the infrastructure and economic (2000/C 219 E/017) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1628/99 by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Francesco Fiori (PPE-DE), Giuseppe Gargani (PPE-DE), Stefano Zappalà (PPE-DE), Raffaele Fitto (PPE-DE), Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE) and Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission (15 September 1999) Subject: Canal Plus-ENEL agreement: entry of the largest public electricity group into the world of digital television In the context of the Canal Plus-ENEL agreement, ENEL, the Italian electricity board, has subscribed to a 30 % share in Telepiø, involving a disbursement of some 900 billion lire. At the same time, ENEL has increased its charges so that each family now has to pay over a million lire more per year. What is the Commissionís view of the entry of the largest public electricity group into the world of digital television? Can the Commission ascertain the grounds for such a decision, the criteria adopted and the reasons for not investing capital in other economic sectors? Does it consider it acceptable for a state-owned enterprise to invest public capital in a venture whose prospects and financial situation are still uncertain, creating an image and awareness among the European public that public funds are being appropriated for an investment that is risky to say the least? Does it believe that the simultaneous increase in electricity charges to offset expenditure that is totally unrelated to the energy sector is justifiable? Can the Commission check whether similar cases have arisen in other EU Member States? Lastly, can the Commission assess whether the Canal Plus-ENEL affair can be considered from a market viewpoint or whether it impedes free competition? Can it also ascertain whether there are limits to the financial activity of a state-owned enterprise in a free market, especially alongside another state-owned enterprise, RAI TV? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (18 October 1999) The Commission, under Article 295 (ex-Article 222) of the EC Treaty, is not competent to assess the choices of a Member State regarding the ownership of undertakings. Therefore, it is not competent to assess the industrial logic of the investment decisions adopted by public or private companies, nor possible diversification strategies chosen by them. Under state aid rules, no state aid can be detected when investments are made in circumstances that would be acceptable for a private investor operating under normal market economy conditions, i. e. when the expected return on the investment is comparable with the one a private investor operating in market economy would have required, taking into account the risk of the investment itself. The Commission has requested the Italian authorities to provide preliminary information on ENELís acquisition of Telepiø, in order to assess the possible presence of State aid. In particular, the Commission will ensure that ENELís investment in Telepiø does not benefit from cross- subsidies deriving from the reserved activities of ENEL in the electricity business