WRITTEN QUESTION E-2702/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. Approval procedures for projects seeking ERDF support.
C 374 E/10 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 (2000/C 374 E/011) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2673/99 by Mark Watts (PSE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Import of donkeys from CEECs to the EU for slaughter How many live donkeys were imported from central and eastern European countries for slaughter in the EU in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (27 January 2000) Customs statistics do not differentiate between the different purposes for which donkeys are imported into the Community. The total number of those animals which in 1997 and 1998 were imported from Central and Eastern European countries are respectively 4 715 and 7 467. More than 90 % of them were of Romanian origin and imported into Italy. (2000/C 374 E/012) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2702/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Approval procedures for projects seeking ERDF support Applicants seeking ERDF funds to support the construction of an industrial estate will frequently argue that the project will provide new employment opportunities. What steps does the Commission take to ensure that such claims are justified and, in particular, to verify that such employment as may be created will represent additional jobs rather than jobs transferred from other industrial locations? In the case of industrial parks being built on greenfield sites, what steps does the Commission take to ensure that the development complies with EU requirements promote environmental sustainability by, for example, (a) protecting habitats, (b) giving priority to the development of brownfield sites, (c) discouraging the additional use of motor transport? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (10 March 2000) The Commission has developed a systematic approach to assessing job creation targets. This is summarised in the booklet Counting the Jobsí published in the series Evaluation Documentsí, which is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat general of the Parliament. The specific concern raised, that claimed jobs will actually consist of transfers from other locations, is a type of displacement and this issue is addressed specifically as part of the calculation of net jobs created. It is true that most ex-ante predictions of employment effects are based on gross job creation, but the net effect is examined in intermediate evaluation and particularly in ex-post evaluation. Concerning sustainable development, the Commission stressed in its indicative guidelines for programmes in the period 2000-2006 (1) that priority should be given to the rehabilitation of brownfield industrial sites over the development of greenfield sites. Moreover, the Commission has emphasised that transport interventions to be assisted should be integrated into strategies for sustainable transport systems. Whilst the guidelines are not legally binding, compliance with Community legislation such as Council Directive 28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/11 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (2), and Council Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979 on the conservation of wild birds (3) is a condition for any assistance from the structural funds. (1) OJ C 267, 22. 9. 1999, p. 2. (2) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. (3) OJ L 103, 25. 4. 1979, p. 1. (2000/C 374 E/013) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2703/99 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Cotton production in Asia According to a News Summaryí item published by the UN Information Centre earlier this year, The FAO has plans for a major project on environmentally friendly cotton production in Asia financed by the EU, for Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam, designed to reduce insecticide use by farmers by more than 50 % while increasing production. í Will the Commission provide details of this scheme and confirm that it will neither involve the use of genetically modified organisms nor threaten biodiversity? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) The objective of this regional project is the sustainable, profitable and environmentally sound production of cotton in six participating countries (India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and the Philippines). This is being achieved through the development, promotion and practice of integrated pest management (IPM) by farmers and extension staff. Integrated pest management (Agenda 21), which combines biological control, host plant resistance and appropriate farming practices and minimises the use of pesticides, guarantees yields, reduces costs, is environmentally friendly and contributes to the sustainability of agriculture. IPM therefore entails a strong concern for biodiversity, and a substantial reduction in pesticide use which is achievable without the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The strategy of the project, which has just commenced (November 1999), will follow the policies outlined in Control of Pesticides and IPMí, which will be one of progressive pest management based on three main principles: establishing control over pesticide use, reducing reliance on pesticide use and actions for the promotion of integrated pest management. The Commission is aware that the Chinese public sector organisations have, since 1988, made major investments in plant biotechnology, and genetically modified cotton has been grown commercially in China in certain areas since 1998. The Commission has supported a mission of biosafety experts to China to investigate the safety of their work and the Chinese authorities have established biosafety regulations which are in accordance with international standards. The adoption of transgenic plants in agriculture has proceeded at a rapid rate but the evaluation of the impact and integration of transgenic crops into IPM systems is an entirely new area. How these crops can be incorporated as safe and effective components of sustainable IPM systems remains to be determined. All this will be taken into account when the China component for this Community regional project is being decided with the Chinese authorities, together with the relevant social, cultural and environmental factors which are pertinent to China. Those discussions will provide an opportunity to examine the various viewpoints and to agree on project sites and cotton varieties that will not prejudice either the Chinese or the Community positions on the use of genetically modified plants