WRITTEN QUESTION P-0663/00 by Martin Schulz (PSE) to the Commission. The Leuna refinery in the Federal Republic of Germany.
C 330 E/198 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 (2000/C 330 E/228) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0662/00 by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission (28 February 2000) Subject: Fifth Action Programme on equal opportunities for women and men Following the discussion of 22 February last with Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou on the Fifth Equality Opportunities Programme: 1. How does the Commission, given that this action programme is scheduled to be adopted at the end of 2000 or the beginning of 2001, envisage its implementation in 2001? 2. How does the Commission, given that it envisages the Fifth Programme covering both mainstreaming activities and positive action, intend to divide the funding between these two areas? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (21 March 2000) As the member of the Commission responsible for Employment and social affairs mentioned in the discussion in the womenís rights committee on 22 February 2000, the proposal for a new framework programme on gender equality, covering the period 2001 ü 2005 is scheduled to be presented for adoption before Summer 2000. Both the Portuguese and the French presidencies have introduced this subject in their respective agendas in order to ensure the adoption of the new programme by the Council on the basis of Article 13 of the EC Treaty, so that it can be implemented in 2001. With regard to the funding of the new programme, this will reflect its combined approach linking specific actions to redress inequalities that women experience, and gender mainstreaming. Under this new approach, the Commission will be invited to identify its activities to promote gender equality (be it mainstreaming policies or positive action) both in terms of content and expenditure, the new programme being the áumbrellaí for all Community policies that can make a contribution to the goal of achieving gender equality. In addition, the new programme will include a series of horizontal and co-ordinating actions to ensure internal consistency and effectiveness as well as monitoring, reporting and evaluation. Actions which cannot be funded under other budget lines will be presented under the form of a Council decision for an action programme equipped with a specific budget line (B3-4012). (2000/C 330 E/229) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0663/00 by Martin Schulz (PSE) to the Commission (29 February 2000) Subject: The Leuna refinery in the Federal Republic of Germany 1. Has the Commission completed all its enquiries into whether the construction of the Leuna refinery in Germany satisfies the requirements of competition law? Does the Commission have no doubts concerning the proper handling and implementation of the procedure by the competent authorities in Germany? 2. Is the Commission aware that documents connected with aid to the Leuna refinery may have disappeared from the Federal Chancellorís office? Has the Commission taken any steps to examine whether such incidents affect the interests of the EU, with particular regard to establishing whether the proper procedures were used for granting licences? 3. Has the Commission contacted the authorities in the Federal Republic to check whether the documents that may have disappeared and the data that may have been deleted include documents or data of which the EUís authorities have copies or which, found, could be of assistance to the Commission? if 21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/199 Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (21 March 2000) In the framework of its responsibilities for state aid control, pursuant to Articles 87 and 88 1. (ex-Articles 92 and 93) of the EC Treaty, the Commission is currently investigating whether the cost for the construction of the Leuna 2000 refinery by Elf was artificially inflated. Elf could have received aid payments which go beyond the 35 % aid ceiling permitted in Eastern Germany. As for the investigation of possible fraud in relation to the granting of state aid, it should be noted that such investigations are the the results of such responsibility of investigations in order to see whether it has to draw any conclusions. the Member States. The Commission will study with interest 2. The Commission is aware of allegations that some files have disappeared in the chancellery concerning the Leuna refinery. Such events would not, however, in any way change the obligations of a Member State to submit to the Commission any information necessary for assessing the compatibility of state aid. 3. The Commission is ready to assist the German authorities in their investigations and to provide any Information connected with the existence of acts constituting criminal offences, subject only to the need to avoid obstacles to the proper functioning and independence of the Communities. (2000/C 330 E/230) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0666/00 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission (29 February 2000) Subject: Allegations of ESF fraud in Spain Following the discovery that the Centro PolitØcnico de Educación a Distancia y Editorial (CPD) company, in which the wife of his political appointee, the Director-General for Migration, had a 50 % holding, had made use of inside information to charge approximately ESP 2 billion (EUR 12 million) in respect of its involvement in programmes run by the National Employment Agency (INEM), the Spanish Minister for Labour and Social Affairs dismissed the Director-General and, deciding to accept political responsibility for the affair, resigned on 19 February. Given that the INEM is responsible for administering a large proportion of the ESF funds allocated to Spain, would the Commission state whether the above matter has come to its attention; European Social Fund aid or other types of Community aid is, or may be, being put to improper use; this is an isolated case, or whether it is aware of similar cases; OLAF has opened any inquiries, and, if it has, whether it could forward the conclusions thereof or details of the stage that has been reached therein to either the author of this question or the relevant EP committee? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (7 April 2000) As a result of press coverage, the Commission is already familiar with the case mentioned by the Honourable Member. Given the nature of the operations concerned (training schemes) and the link to the largest European Social Fund promoter in Spain (the National Employment Agency INEMí), the Commission has called upon the Spanish authorities to keep it informed of the results of their investigation and any involvement on the part of the ESF. The information which the Spanish authorities will supply should enable the Commission to gauge the extent of any problems. Within the framework of its annual inspection activities, the Commission has arranged an inspection visit to the INEM, which was announced when the Commission submitted its plan to the national authorities in December 1999