WRITTEN QUESTION E-1705/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. 1998 budget ‐ expenditure for annual events.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/17 3. What action does the Council propose to take if the accusation by the European Court of Auditors is substantiated in a statement to be delivered to the Court by the North Rhine-Westphalia Minister for Economic Affairs, Peer Steinbrück, by 15 October 1999? Does the Council take the view that Bodo Hombach can continue to occupy the office of EU Special 4. Co-ordinator for the Stability Pact for South-East Europe in spite of the debate on the private financial áaffairsí with which he has been linked and that his term of office, which ends on 31 December 1999, should be extended? Joint answer to Written Questions E-1693/99, E-1694/99 and E-1776/99 (14 February 2000) The Council is aware of the allegations made in the German press on the activities undertaken by Mr Hombach prior to his appointment as EU Special Representative and Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact. In light of the clarifications given by Mr Hombach to the Presidency on the questions concerning him and in the absence of any conviction by a court of law, the Presidency and the Council continue to support him in performing the role entrusted to him. (2000/C 219 E/023) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1705/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 September 1999) Subject: 1998 budget ü expenditure for annual events The draft budget of the European Communities for the financial year 2000 has earmarked EUR 6 500 000 (approximately ITL 13 billion) for annual events. Can the Commission provide details of how the sum appropriated for 1998 ü ECU 10 000 000, equivalent to ITL 19 360 000 000 ü was spent? Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission (2 December 1999) The budget heading B3-309 ü Annual eventsí was introduced in the 1999 budget. It amounts to € 10 million and has served to finance mainly Expo Hanover 2000 and the European campaign to raise awareness on violence against women. The planned spending on Expo Hanover 2000 amounts to € 7,5 million. The costs concern the preparation of the Union Pavilion at EXPO 2000 in Hanover, which will take place from 1 June 2000 to 30 October 2000. Calls for tenders have been launched and contracts signed to cover the initial work as indicated in the financial statement of the Commission communication (1). Planned spending on the European campaign to raise awareness on violence against women amounts to € 2,5 million, including conferences (€ 180 000), the definition of conception, publications and spot TV (€ 320 000) and support to projects by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (€ 2 million). Concerning this latter, a call for tender was published in the Official journal (2) inviting NGOs to present projects and become involved in the campaign. (1) COM(1999) 131. (2) OJ C 180, 25. 6. 1999