WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1909/98 by Daniel VARELA SUANZES- CARPEGNA to the Commission. Powers of the Commission for the coordination of EU policy on economic and social cohesion and regional planning
C 31/100 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 5. 2. 1999 (1999/C 31/134) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1909/98 by Daniel Varela Suanzes-Carpegna (PPE) to the Commission (16 June 1998) Subject: Powers of the Commission for the coordination of EU policy on economic and social cohesion and regional planning In its recent report A4-0206/98, Parliament pointed out that, despite the absence of any specific provision in the Treaty attributing powers in the field of regional planning, it may be concluded from certain elements of the Treaty that the Commission is empowered to monitor and coordinate the regional effects of the Community policies (see Articles 129b, 130a, 130b, 130r and 130s) in the context of its powers of legislative initiative and implementation. The same report also recalls that, following the informal Council of Noordwijk, the Commission undertook a series of internal consultations of its departments, as a result of which it was concluded that it should be possible to set up permanent mechanisms for the monitoring, assessment and coordination of the regional effects of the various fields of Community activity. Can the Commission state what measures it has taken or intends to take to fulfil this mandate, specifying, where applicable, the characteristics and mode of operation of these mechanisms? Can the Commission state to what extent this mandate was taken into account in the drawing-up of the proposals for the reform of the Structural Funds adopted by the Commission on 18 March 1998? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (15 July 1998) The Commission is currently preparing a report on spatial planning and Community policies. Its objective is to clarify the mechanisms by which Community policies take into account spatial planning-related issues, to assess whether the policy aims set out in the first draft of the European Spatial Development Perspective can constitute a useful set of guidelines to integrate territorial differences better in sectoral policies, and to consider co-operation models and institutional mechanisms for improving the spatial consistency of Community policies. The report is being prepared in the framework of the interdepartmental work of the Commission on spatial planning. It is due to be discussed by the Commission early next year and will constitute one of the key inputs to the Forum on spatial planning scheduled for February 1999. In addition, the Commission departments responsible for each Community policy are closely associated in the preparation of the thematic transnational seminars on spatial planning. The proposals for the Regulations to govern the Structural Funds, approved by the Commission on 18 March 1998 (1), provide among other things that one of the three planned Community initiatives will concern crossborder, transnational and interregional cooperation and will seek to encourage the harmonious and balanced development and spatial planning of the European territory. In addition, a number of studies and innovative projects dealing with issues linked to regional development planning may be launched at the instigation of the Commission. (1) COM(98) 131 final. (1999/C 31/135) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1920/98 by Lutz Goepel (PPE) to the Commission (18 June 1998) Subject: Registration of horses The main significance of existing EU rules on the registration of equidae (Directives 90/426/EEC (1) and 90/427/ EEC (2) and Decision 93/623/EEC (3)) is for health controls in national and intra-Community trade. For the purposes of consumer protection, it makes sense to divide horses into the categories of áhorses used for leisure or sportí and áhorses for slaughterí. Medicinal products might be permitted for the first group that may not be used for an animal intended to be used for food. Reliable registration of the animals is a prerequisite for categorizing them