WRITTEN QUESTION E-2547/99 by Guido Podestà (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Former frontier cities.
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 C 303 E/78 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Communityís social objectives and values. The maturing internal market requires a strategy that delivers tangible benefits to all concerned, be they citizens or businesses, including those located in frontier regions and cities, and whatever their circumstances. It is for this reason that the Commission adopted its strategy for the European Unionís internal market (1). This takes account of the internal marketís contribution to the broader objectives of the Union, and was endorsed by the Helsinki European Council. The main aim of this strategy is constantly to improve the performance of the internal market in the years ahead for the benefit of citizens and business alike. These interests are not mutually exclusive and if they do conflict they have to be reconciled. The Commission is monitoring and reviewing the effects of existing internal market measures continuously by using the single market scoreboard, and the Cardiff report which provides an annual assessment of the functioning of product and capital markets. The Cardiff report aims to examine markets in a broad sense, and therefore tries to take account of the social impact of market outcomes. The 2000 Cardiff report (2) will show that economic and social cohesion among European regions (in general) has improved considerably. The gross domestic product (GDP) per head in the 10 regions with the lowest income levels increased from 41 % to 50 % of the Community average between 1986 and 1996. In addition contrary to predictions, between 1988 and 1998, the geographic concentration of manufacturing activities across Member States has declined. This means that peripheral and smaller Member States have actually grown faster than larger Member States. In order to ensure that European citizens make full use of their rights, the dialogue with citizens and business offers new ways of communication with the public. Through a website and call centre (with a freephone number for each Member State), citizens can submit questions and receive personalised advice on their internal market rights and opportunities. Feedback from the dialogue with citizens and business can be used to respond to outstanding problems experienced by citizens and businesses to help them when It also helps to improve the doing business, or travelling, across borders to neighbouring regions. interactive nature of policy development with the aim of improving the functioning of the internal market. The Commission will present an annual review and update of its internal market strategy for discussion with the Parliament, the Council and all interested parties. The first of these reviews is due in April 2000. In addition, over the last 10 years, the structural funds, through the Interreg Community initiative, have provided around € 3 500 million for the development of cross-border regions within the Community. A similar sum is likely to be available under the new period of Interreg which will run from 2000 to 2006. Although the principal aim of the cross-border part of Interreg is to overcome the barrier effect that borders cause, there is nothing to prevent the Member States and regions participating in an Interreg programme from using some of the funds available to assist those who may temporarily suffer as a result of changes which, in a broader picture, will strengthen the internal market. (1) COM(1999) 624 final. (2) Ref. after adoption. (2000/C 303 E/069) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2549/99 by Paul Rübig (PPE-DE) to the Commission (4 January 2000) Subject: Exclusive designations for types of beer A few months ago a proposal was made that the allocation of traditional names for breeds of horse should be restricted to a particular geographical region. Thankfully the Commission opposed the adoption of such protectionist measures. Now efforts are also being made to introduce exclusive designations for types of beer, which would thus be given the same protection as types of wine. However, the designation of a type of beer, unlike wine, does not so much indicate its geographical origin as a particular production or brewing method