WRITTEN QUESTION E-2406/99 by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Senior EURO Pass.
C 225 E/126 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 Given the specific difficulties ü noted in the Treaty ü which ultraperipheral regions face, and the cost of insular status, above all as regards agricultural and fishery products: ü what are the Commissionís reasons for proposing this fresh cutback in the Poseima programme, and ü what are the mechanisms it is using to ensure that the programmeís appropriations are being fully taken up? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (11 January 2000) The Commission would remind the Honourable Member that the amounts given under budget heading B1-321 (Poseima) are forecasts of the expenditure necessary for carrying out the measures required under that therefore, be construed as a cutback in the programme. item ü the reduction in appropriations cannot, As regards the specific issues raised, the Commission would point out that the proposed reduction is due entirely to the fact that the forecasts are based on the actual extent (in percentage terms) to which the supply balances have been implemented in the last few years. The rate of take-up of the appropriations is dependant on how effectively and correctly the beneficiary areas themselves have implemented the supply balances, or any other of the measures provided for in the legislation. It should also be noted that this item is exclusively concerned with agricultural products. Fishery products do benefit from the measures in the Poseima programme ü they are covered by other budget headings. (2000/C 225 E/135) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2406/99 by John McCartin (PPE-DE) to the Commission (16 December 1999) Subject: Senior EURO Pass Can the Commission provide information on the current status of its consideration of the introduction of a Senior EURO Pass or EURO Card for senior citizens which would grant a range of concessions (including transport) across the European Union following the study completed by AGE Concern with Commission support? Is the Commission considering making proposals with a view to the introduction of such a scheme of concessions in the Member States? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (28 January 2000) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-1054/99 by Mrs Billingham (1), to the reply it gave to Oral Question H-1023/98 by Robert Evans during question time at Parliamentís November 1998 part-session (2) and to the reply it gave to Oral Question H-1148/98 by Niall Andrews during question time at Parliamentís December 1998 part-session (3). The non-governmental organisation (NGO) members of the liaison group for older people have not come forward in support of the suggestions in the final report of the study, for example in the context of the preparation of the United Nations international year of older persons. In this light, the Commission has no present intention to come forward with any proposals for a senior EURO pass or over sixties card. (1) OJ C 348, 3. 12. 1999. (2) Debates of the European Parliament (November 1998). (3) Debates of the European Parliament (December 1998)