WRITTEN QUESTION P-0441/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Draft version of a new Community framework for state aids for environmental protection.
C 303 E/194 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (9 March 2000) The Commission is aware of the United Kingdomís proposed legislation banning the rearing of animals destined to be killed for their fur. The draft legislation has been communicated to the Commission under the provisions of Directive 98/34/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 22 June 1998 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations (1). Under the provisions of this Directive a standstill period of three months is applicable from the date of communication of the text of the proposed legislation by the Member State concerned. This period expires on 13 March 2000. The Commission is currently examining the measures communicated by the United Kingdom in the light of the applicable provisions of the Community law including those mentioned by the Honourable Member. If following the completion of this examination the Commission were to conclude that proposed United Kingdom legislation appeared to be incompatible with Community law it would inform that Member State of its observations on the matter in accordance with the procedure laid down in Directive 98/34/EC. The Commission will inform the Honourable Member of its position on this issue as soon as it has taken a definitive decision under the above-mentioned Directive. (1) OJ L 204, 21. 7. 1998. (2000/C 303 E/222) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0441/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (11 February 2000) Subject: Draft version of a new Community framework for state aids for environmental protection The Commission departments are currently finalising in consultation with the Member States an important document concerning a Community framework for state aids for environmental protection. This is due to enter into force in July 2000. These guidelines are essential for the management of state aids in the environmental field, e. g. in respect of the support provided by the Member States for renewable energies. 1. What are the main criteria by which the Commission assesses state aids for environmental protection? 2. More specifically, what approach underlies the guidelines by which renewable energies are aided? 3. What steps will it be taking to consult with the European Parliament and environmental organisa- tions before reaching a decision on this important issue? How will the transparency and cooperation with Parliament pledged by Commission President Prodi 4. be ensured before the guidelines are adopted? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (15 March 2000) 1. In accordance with Article 6 (formerly Article 3c) of the EC Treaty, the Commission has the task of ensuring that environmental protection requirements are integrated into the definition and implementation of Community policies and activities. In order to ensure better long-term protection for the environment, it take the view that Community policy in this connection must be based on the ápolluter-paysí principle, this being the best way to encourage society at large to protect the environment. Generally speaking, the granting of state aid can thwart this principle by allowing firms to avoid the environmental costs linked to their activities. The Commission considers therefore that the granting of aid can be counter-productive for 24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/195 the environment in the long term. Consequently, aid must be confined to situations in which it makes a genuine contribution to improving the environment significantly and enables firms to adapt to new circumstances, notably in the tax field. These provisions will be spelt out in the new guidelines for state aid for environmental protection, which is currently being drawn up and should be applicable as from 1 July 2000. 2. The use and development of renewable energies are encouraged by the Commission, which is aware that, in some cases, these forms of energy are still faced with higher production costs than traditional sources of energy. In the Commissionís view, therefore, temporary aid for renewable energies may be it must not be permanent and the firms concerned should adapt progressively to justified. However, market conditions. 3. and 4. The Commission has drafted new Community guidelines for environmental aid. They will be examined by Member Statesí experts at a meeting of the Advisory Committee and will then be adopted by the Commission. Organisations active in the environmental field are not consulted directly by the Commission but are usually consulted on an informal basis by the Member Statesí representatives who sit on the Advisory Committee responsible for giving an opinion to the Commission. The views of organisations active in the environmental field are therefore brought to the Commissionís attention indirectly. Where Parliament is concerned, the procedure does not provide for any consultations prior to the adoption of Community state aid guidelines. However, the Commissioner responsible for competition considers it extremely important that Parliament should be regularly informed of the Commissionís work. This matter should, therefore, be addressed at a forthcoming meeting. (2000/C 303 E/223) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0444/00 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission (24 February 2000) Subject: Support for the press Thank you for your answer (E-1876/99) (1) of 5 January 2000. I still have a number of questions regarding the criteria for selecting newspapers for support set out in the reply. 1. What objective criteria are used to assess the ácredibilityí of a medium to receive financial support from the Commission representation? 2. Are statistics yet available on the Commissionís 1999 expenditure on the Austrian media? 3. What financial support does the Commission plan to provide to the Austrian media in the year 2000? On what basis is this support calculated, and can the Commission predict at this stage which 4. Austrian newspapers will be receiving support in 2000? (1) OJ C 203, 18. 7. 2000, p. 78. Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (24 March 2000) The credibility of a medium is assessed on the basis of continual monitoring over many years of the 1. factual accuracy of its reporting of Community affairs