WRITTEN QUESTION No. 390/99 by Gerhard SCHMID Use of Objective 5b funds to finance the construction of golf courses in Bavaria
29. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 341/105 Has it already reacted to this situation? If so, how? If not, is the Commission prepared to find out about the situation in the Dominican Republic and to take any steps that may be necessary? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (18 March 1999) The Commission is closely monitoring the situation in the Dominican Republic and is aware of the tension between the government and the opposition. While this forms part of a broader picture it is currently focused largely on the composition of the Junta Central Electoral. In the course of a recent high-level Commission visit to the Dominican Republic officials met the president and the heads of the two legislative chambers, both members of the opposition,and urged them to cooperate in strengthening democracy and the rule of law, pointing out the responsibilities incumbent on all parts of the machinery of state. (1999/C 341/148) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0390/99 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission (1 March 1999) Subject: Use of Objective 5b funds to finance the construction of golf courses in Bavaria 1. Is Focus magazine correct in reporting that the use of EU Objective 5b funds to finance the construction of golf courses does not comply with the operational programme’s guidelines? If so, how can it be explained? 2. Must the funds be repaid by the recipient or by the Free State of Bavaria? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (7 April 1999) Between 1-5 December 1997 and 28-29 January 1998, the European Court of auditors (ECA) audited 1. the Bavarian objective 5b programme 1989-1993. In its sector letter of 16 April 1998 the Court stated that assistance given in the framework of this programme to golf courses was often not coherent with the objectives as set out in the programme. It also doubted if the financing of golf courses was justified under the programme measure ‘farm holidays’ and proposed a funding by the European regional development fund (ERDF). It also stated that neither the results of an environmental feasibility study nor planning permission for the time of the legal commitment of public funding was available. In the answer to these findings, Germany explained that according to the description of the measure ‘holidays on farm’ in the Community support framework (CSF) for this operational programme ‘it was intended to complete and to improve the possibilities for adequate accommodation and gastronomy. Therefore sport-, health- and cultural related tourism can be taken into consideration’. The development plans submitted to the Commission before drafting the CSF mention explicitly the ‘creation of golf courses’. The Commission is deciding upon its position at this time. 2. In those cases in which the Commission claims refunds, it will address the Member State accordingly