WRITTEN QUESTION E-1941/99 by Isidoro Sánchez García (ELDR) to the Commission. Trans European and Energy networks and the ultraperipheral regions.
C 303 E/20 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 The Communityís humanitarian aid programmes are managed by the Commission. Its programmes are implemented in co-operation with professional humanitarian agencies, such as specialised United Nations agencies, European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Red Cross movement. The Com- mission has recently opened a technical office in Moscow in order to advise partners directly in the field. In general, the Commission shares the cautious assessment of the reliability of distribution systems in the Russian Federation. In fact, this is one of the major reasons why the size of the Commission activities in this country has remained relatively modest (adequate monitoring possibilities being one of the essential criteria when it decides on a project proposal). (2000/C 303 E/017) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1941/99 by Isidoro SÆnchez García (ELDR) to the Commission (4 November 1999) Subject: Trans European and Energy networks and the ultraperipheral regions It is a simple fact that the ultra-peripheral regions are, to all intents and purposes, excluded from access to the current Trans-European and Energy Network Guidelines. These regions are very severely disadvantaged by their remoteness and the scattered nature of their territories, and they merit special treatment. Does the Commission intend to develop a specific transport and energy policy to meet the needs of these regions, guaranteeing them not merely access as such to the trans-European networks, but a level of access appropriate to the major problems from which they suffer? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (26 November 1999) The need to link island, landlocked and peripheral regions to the central regions of the Community is laid down in the EC Treaty within the framework of Community action on trans-European networks. Therefore, both in the transport infrastructures sector and the energy sector, the particular characteristics of these regions have already been included in the guidelines. The fact that ultra-peripheral regions are, geographically speaking, so far away obviously makes it almost impossible to physically interconnect these regions to networks at the centre of Europe. However, in the Community guidelines for developing the trans-European transport network (Decision No 1692/96/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 (1)), the need to guarantee access to and the linking of ultra-peripheral regions is more specifically taken into account in port and airport networks based on how fragmented and far away these territories are. The Community guidelines for trans-European energy networks (Decision No 1254/96/EC of the Parlia- ment and of the Council of 5 June 1996 (2)) provide, among their priorities, for the interconnection of isolated electricity networks (for example, by underwater links between islands or towards another closer network) and for the introduction of natural gas into new regions (for example, from an LNG reception terminal. Development schemes aimed at ultra-peripheral regions at Community level are not limited only to trans- European networks. The Structural Funds (e. g. , the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European Social Fund, the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund and the Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance) make a considerable contribution in the form of multi-annual development programmes under Objective 1 (regions lagging behind in their development) and certain Community initiatives (essentially REGIS). 24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/21 Over the current planning period (1994-1999), the contribution of the Structural Funds represents some EUR 4 327,5 million (at 1999 prices), divided as follows: Region Canaries Martinique Guadeloupe Guyana Reunion Azores Madeira Portugal/REGIS Objective 1 1 058,1 337,1 357,5 164,9 673,2 696,8 417,8 Total 3 705,4 CI 229,5 60,8 61,3 28,4 115,6 126,5 622,1 Total 1 287,6 397,9 418,8 193,3 788,8 696,8 417,8 126,5 4 327,5 Part of these programmes is, of course, intended for transport and energy infrastructures. Furthermore, in the case of the ERDF, Council Regulation (EEC) No 2083/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4254/88 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 (3) specifies in Title I, Article 1(b) that the ERDF should contribute to the development of trans-European transport, energy and telecommunications networks. Finally, other financial instruments, in particular the European Investment Bank, also finance infrastructure projects in ultra-peripheral regions. (1) OJ L 228, 9. 9. 1996. (2) OJ L 161, 29. 6. 1996. (3) OJ L 193, 31. 7. 1993. (2000/C 303 E/018) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1948/99 by GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE) to the Commission (4 November 1999) Subject: Method of controlling genetic traits Is the Commission aware that the American biotechnology group Monsanto has developed a method of controlling genetic traits? This technique enables farmers to activate or deactivate certain genes present in a plant for the purpose of resisting attacks by insect pests or making the plant herbicide-tolerant. However, such activation/deactivation can only be controlled by applying to the plants a chemical which is currently solely manufactured by the same company, the one supplying the genetically-modified seed. The Commission: 1. Is it aware of this technique? 2. Does it have results of analyses of the possible risks which this type of genetic manipulation may pose to consumers of food products derived from this process? Can the GMOs be traced and detected in the finished products? 3. Does it intend, food produced from genetically-modified seed using this technique? If not, how does it envisage checking that such products are not distributed in Europe? to authorise the marketing in Europe of if appropriate, 4. Generally speaking, and looking ahead to the WTO Ministerial Conference in a few weeksí time and the forthcoming Millennium Round, does it intend to broach with its counterparts the question of the possibility of Europe invoking the precautionary principle in cases of scientific uncertainty in order to prohibit the marketing in Europe of food products containing GMOs or products produced from GMOs, without laying itself open to infringement proceedings before a WTO panel?