WRITTEN QUESTION P-1302/00 by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Commission. Statement by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Council.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/215 Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (16 May 2000) Experts were commissioned to carry out a rehabilitation study of the initial objectives of the Euro-Arab Management School (EAMS) and its achievements to date. The conclusions of this assessment show that there is a substantial difference between the initial objectives and what has been achieved. At this stage the EAMS project is being evaluated carefully to work out the best plan of action for the Schoolís future. The Commission is aware of the Schoolís financial difficulties and of the importance of the project and will do its best to judge objectively and make decisions in the best interests of all concerned. (2000/C 374 E/254) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1291/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (19 April 2000) Subject: Project for construction of a water purifying plant in Gondomar in the context of the integrated improvement project for the Ria de Vigo financed by the Cohesion Fund The decision of the Commission to grant Cohesion Fund aid to the set of integrated clearance projects for the Ria de Vigo (Galicia) (Commission Decision 95/11/61/035) provides, in one of its paragraphs, for a specific action for integrated improvement for Gondomar and the river Miæor. This specific project was costed at ECU 4 836 036 in total. In the case of Gondomar, the first stage consists of the construction of a water purifying plant and a number of collectors; the construction work has terminated, but the plant is not yet officially in operation. The project has given rise to a major controversy in the local community, and has even been the subject of a complaint lodged with the regional ombudsman for Galicia: the plant has been built on privately-owned land belonging to a single proprietor, and the contract of sale was drawn up in a secret and irregular fashion. It further appears that the transaction has been highly profitable for the owner, who has now filed a request for the land to be reclassified with a view to using it for property development. In addition, the access road to the plant (linking the Ramallosa-Gondomar road to the parish of Dornas, in the municipality of Gondomar) runs through this personís land and has not yet been completed: access to the plant is thus not at present possible. Can the Commission call for an inquiry into these circumstances, as well as for the assessment and monitoring of this project, which has been suspended for some time and which appears to exhibit operational irregularities? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (7 June 2000) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible. (2000/C 374 E/255) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1302/00 by Andrew Duff (ELDR) to the Commission (12 April 2000) Subject: Statement by the Deputy Secretary-General of the Council Does the President of the Commission, in his capacity as a member of the European Council, agree with the statement made to the Committee on Constitutional Affairs on 3 April by Mr Philippe de Boissieu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council, that the European Council never read the Presidencyís Conclu- sions and could not explain them? C 374 E/216 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 Does he share Mr de Boissieuís view that the European Council is not able to play an effective role in coordinating the general affairs of the Council? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (23 May 2000) It is Commission policy not to comment on the internal affairs of the other Community institutions. (2000/C 374 E/256) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1323/00 by Alexandre Varaut (UEN) to the Commission (17 April 2000) Subject: Restrictions on televising in France of sporting events staged abroad What is the Commissionís position regarding the complaints lodged in 1995 in particular by producers and dealers in French wines labelled appellation díorigine contrôlØe, over restrictions on the televising in France of sporting events staged abroad, because of hoardings around the grounds advertising alcoholic beverages. This position of the French authorities is based on a restrictive interpretation of the (French) áloi Eviní which bans all TV advertising and on a ácode of good conductí (drawn up in March 1995) which formalised that interpretation. 1. Can the Commission contemplate closing the case, even though it has identified, in its reasoned opinion of July 1996, clear restrictions on freedom to provide services and even though France has shown no intention of modifying its position? 2. Can the continuation of discussions with the French authorities lead to a satisfactory solution when, contrary to the undertaking it gave in December 1998, it failed to consult the complainants and given that, since 1996, discussions have taken place time and again without any solution appearing? 3. Can the French authorities be said to respect the proportionality principle, when their approach (formalised in the ácode of good conductí) has the effect of allowing the televising of sporting events which count among those drawing the largest audiences, such as the World Cup or World Championships, of preventing medium-sized producers (wine producers) from advertising events which would be accessible to them and, in fact, of penalising drinks (wines) which are hardly consumed by young people at all? 4. In no way is the ácode of good conductí binding on the authorities responsible in France for prosecuting the author of an infringement of the Evin law and, hence, of a criminal offence. How does the Commission intend, within the framework of discussions with France, to guarantee legal certainty under the conditions defined by the Court of Justice? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (19 May 2000) The Commission is continuing its high-level contacts with the French authorities with the aim of finding a satisfactory solution, by mutual agreement, to the restrictions on the freedom to provide services which led to a reasoned opinion being issued in 1996. As part of these discussions, the Commissioner responsible for the internal market will soon be meeting the French ministers concerned. The outcome of the discussions will determine the future course of the current procedure