WRITTEN QUESTION E-2529/99 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Comitology costs.
C 303 E/76 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 (2000/C 303 E/066) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2528/99 by Jürgen Zimmerling (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Cost of reconstruction in Kosovo (4 January 2000) According to the latest information, the Council is providing for the sum of € 500 million for reconstruc- tion costs in Kosovo. These funds will come, essentially, from the development aid budget. The Committee on Development and Cooperation rapporteur, Mrs Carlotti, has informed us that the sum of € 500 million is based solely on estimates. To what extent is the Balkans coordinator, Bodo Hombach, able to give data on the actual cost of past and future reconstruction in Kosovo on the basis of the information to which he must have access by virtue of his office? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) In November 1999, a joint assessment carried out by the Commission and the World Bank, was entitled Towards Stability and Prosperity, a programme for reconstruction and recovery in Kosovo (1). Furthermore, the needs assessment for Kosovo is based on various inputs, in particular the Commissionís damage assessment mission (carried out by the International management group), as well as statements made by the United Nations (UN) interim administration of Kosovo (UNMIK) and data available from other assessment missions. With regard to the role of the Stability Pact, it should be stressed that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (and hence Kosovo) is not a member of the Stability Pact. The Commission actively participates in the Working Tables of the Stability Pact. However, given the mandate of the Stability Pact, this would not appear to be the most appropriate forum for assessing the needs in Kosovo. The Commissioner in charge of external relations remains in close touch with Mr Hombach on matters affecting the region in general. Finally, the Commission recalls that the funds for Kosovo in 2000 will not come from the development budget as such but will follow this breakdown ü € 60 million carry-overs; € 40 million re-deployments; € 20 million ECHO; and € 60 million already foreseen in the preliminary draft budget (PDB) € 180 million flexibility reserve. (1) Available on the joint website of the Commission and World Bank at the following address: www. seerecon. org. / KeyDocuments/KeyOfficialDocuments. htm. (2000/C 303 E/067) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2529/99 by Markus Ferber (PPE-DE) to the Commission (4 January 2000) Subject: Comitology costs According to the EC Treaty, the Commission is responsible for implementing the decisions of the Council. The Council has this process supervised by committees of national experts. How many advisory committees, management committees and regulatory committees of national experts assist the Commission in its executive tasks? In what areas? 24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/77 What was the cost of these committees in 1997, 1998 and 1999? What budget is provided for these committees in 2000? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (22 March 2000) The Commission is assisted in the exercise of its implementing powers by 260 committees. Of these 27 use procedures not in conformity with Council Decisions 87/373/EEC of 13 July 1987 (1) and 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 (2) laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (committee procedures), while 233 follow procedures in conformity with these Decisions. Of the 233, 189 use only one procedure: 24 use the advisory procedure, 56 the management procedure, and 109 the regulatory procedure. 44 committees use two or even three procedures: 21 use advisory and management procedures, five use both advisory and regulatory procedures, 12 use both management and regulatory procedures, and five may use any one of these three procedures. The committees in question function in virtually all the areas covered by the EC Treaty, primarily the environment (over 40 committees), enterprise (over 30), transport and agriculture (nearly 30 each) and health (over 20). The answers to the other parts of the Honourable Memberís question will be sent to him at a later date. (1) OJ L 197, 18. 7. 1987. (2) OJ L 184, 17. 7. 1999. (2000/C 303 E/068) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2547/99 by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission (4 January 2000) Subject: Former frontier cities Protracted piecemeal research involving many officials from different Directorates-General of the Com- mission has revealed a total absence of any study by the European Union institutions concerning all those territorial and economic constructs which, as part of the process of creating the single internal market and, to an even greater extent, with the entry into force of the Schengen Agreement, have seen the basis of their own socio-economic organisation disappear, namely frontiers. While we are all undoubtedly in favour of the birth of an ever closer European Union, we have an absolute duty to meet the needs of all of Europeís citizens. When the Schengen Agreement entered into force, the only Community measure provided for a specific mobility scheme for customs officials, but nothing was done for all those who had some kind of dependent activity associated with the existence of frontiers. Does the Commission not consider it necessary and a matter of urgency to carry out a detailed analysis of the needs of these specific areas of the European Union? Does it not consider it opportune to provide specific logistical and financial support for those who, for a brief period, are being penalised by the single market? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (15 February 2000) The Commission shares the Honourable Memberís concern about the social consequences of the internal market and considers that efficient market outcomes are only acceptable if they conform with the