WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2869/98 by Richard CORBETT to the Commission. Integrity of sites protected by the Habitats directive
C 142/50 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 5. 1999 this has not prevented the Commission from prompting and supporting a large number of European projects (around 1400 projects for the period 1994-97), in relation to contemporary cultural creation Kaleidoscope programme), books and reading (Ariane programme) and to safeguarding the heritage (Raphael programme). Article 128(4) of the EC Treaty further requires the cultural dimension to be integrated in other Community policies. The Commission has accordingly, for the first time, launched pilot interregional cooperation projects in cultural matters in the context of programming under Article 10 of the European Regional Development Fund (1) for the period 1994-99, worth a total of ECU 15 million. It must, however, be emphasised that the main reason for launching these pilot projects is to facilitate the exploitation of a cultural heritage that is in many instances underdeveloped by the less favoured areas of the Community by helping to bring them into networks with other areas in order to stimulate the learning process and transfer know-how and economic development. The pilot interregional cooperation measures in the cultural field thus find their place in the cohesion policy. These projects are now running and therefore closed. No new calls for proposals are planned before the new programming period − 2000-06. But it should be noted that the regional cultural heritage dimension as a means of creating or preserving jobs on a sustainable basis is integrated into other forms of interregional cooperation, in particular in the most recent call for proposals for ECOS-Overture (external interregional cooperation) dated 13 June 1998. (1) OJ L 193, 31. 7. 1993. (1999/C 142/060) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2868/98 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Integrity of sites protected by the Habitats directive Do actions by Local Authorities, such as new signposting systems to encourage traffic to use a particular route, which lead to a significant increase in the usage of a road passing through an area protected by the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC (1), constitute a development requiring an assessment of the impact on the site pursuant to the Habitats Directive? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. (1999/C 142/061) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2869/98 by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission (28 September 1998) Subject: Integrity of sites protected by the Habitats directive Does an upgrading of a road that passes through a Protected Area under the Habitats Directive 92/43/ EEC (1), such that the road will be able for the first time to carry 40 tonne heavy goods vehicles, constitute a development that might damage the integrity of the site and should it therefore require an assessment under the terms of the Habitat Directive? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7