WRITTEN QUESTION E-0957/00 by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Promotion of the ALFA (Latin America Academic Training) programme.
C 53 E/46 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 Unlike other Directives, Council Directive 90/313/EEC of 7 June 1990 on the freedom of access to information on the environment provides the option (in Article 4) of seeking a judicial or administrative review of a public authorityís decision to refuse a request for access to information on the environment, in accordance with the relevant national legal system. Directive 90/313/EEC was transposed into Spanish law by Law 38/1995 of 13 December 1995, amended by Law 55/1999 of 29 December 1999, introducing national appeal procedures. The Commission would point out that, in the light of Written Question P-0790/00 by Mrs MiguØlez Ramos (1), Written Question E-0804/00 by Mr Nogueira RomÆn (1) and the current Written Question on the same subject, it has launched an own-initiative investigation, registered as No B-2000/2076. Accord- ingly, it has approached the Spanish authorities for information on the abovementioned facilities. In any event, the Commission will, as Guardian of the Treaties, take the necessary steps to ensure that Community law is observed in this instance. (1) OJ C 374 E, 28. 12. 2000, p. 155. (2001/C 53 E/052) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0957/00 by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 March 2000) Subject: Promotion of the ALFA (Latin America Academic Training) programme The purpose of the ALFA programme is to encourage exchanges between universities in the EU and their counterparts in eighteen Latin American countries, over a six-year period. To be eligible for financial support under this programme, the universities interested in participating are asked to group themselves into ALFA networksí, i. e. networks of universities consisting of at least six institutions (three from the EU, three from Latin America), from different countries. Can the Commission state what provisions it has included in this programme to ensure that universities potentially interested in taking part are able to engage in contacts (meetings and preliminary encounters) enabling them to become familiar with each other and define a framework for their cooperation, in the priority areas referred to in the invitation under the ALFA programme? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (28 April 2000) ALFAís first phase, besides its specific aims, has been an experience during which higher education institutions from both continents have developed mutual knowledge and during which 2918 joint project proposals have been presented to the Commission. These proposals by university networks represent the involvement of 511 Latin American institutions and 704 European institutions. As for projects approved during the first phase, 808 networks of institutions have developed or are still developing joint projects (a total of 373 Latin American and 530 European). In the current ALFA phase, the technical assistance office of the programme assists the institutions potentially interested in taking part in the programme in the search for partners and at the same time all the requests regarding this search are published in the Internet page: (http://alfa-program. com). Furthermore ALFA networks that do not have experience in organising student mobility can request financing for the preparation of joint mobility projects (within the sub-programme B, ápre-projectsí). In addition, it may be noted that at the moment the Commission is receiving an average of 40 requests a day for information about the programme, of which more than half are requests from institutions that already have identified their networks. 20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/47 Consequently the Commission has not foreseen financing for meetings among eligible institutions prior to presentation of project proposals under the framework of the ALFA programme, launched on 15 February 2000 (1). (1) OJ C 42, 15. 2. 2000. (2001/C 53 E/053) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0958/00 by Jorge HernÆndez Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: EU contribution to tourism development in Melilla (29 March 2000) The city of Melilla, located in North Africa and part of the European Union, is seeking means of resolving the major problems affecting it, namely isolation and the need to diversify its economy through the sustained development of tourism. Potentially it offers a double attractiveness, as a European city for the Maghreb and as a gateway to Africa for Europe. Melilla therefore needs to implement a large-scale tourism plan, including the regeneration of its beaches and the improvement of sea and air communications links. These two key factors will make it possible to dynamise other elements that are needed for a far-reaching tourism development programme. Can the Commission state to what extent it believes that the EU can participate in an integrated tourism development plan for Melilla, to enable this city, situated in North Africa but part of the Union, to become, in the medium to long term, a genuine tourist attraction for all the Unionís Member States? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (25 May 2000) The autonomous city of Melilla is eligible under Objective 1 of the Structural Funds for the 2000-2006 programming period. At present Spainís operational programme proposals are in preparation prior to transmission to the Commission, which will of course give serious consideration to support for the development of tourism in Melilla if included. (2001/C 53 E/054) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0963/00 by Gorka Knörr Borràs (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (29 March 2000) Subject: Drought in Aragon The Spanish region of Aragon suffers from a serious structural drought problem. Since 1915 the national government has produced successive laws and programmes proposing irrigation schemes aimed at remedying the problem. However, many of these schemes have never got off the ground for budget reasons. Present nature conservation policies originating at EU level are having the effect of paralysing irrigation projects in large areas of Aragon, leading to the decided rejection of those policies by the great majority of the inhabitants of the areas affected, who feel that environmental protection is being given priority over allowing the farmers of Aragon the means of survival