WRITTEN QUESTION E-2645/99 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Indian leather industry subsidies.
8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/187 Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (15 February 2000) The Commission would like to inform the Honourable Member that it has examined this case following a complaint which called into question the legality of the award procedure for this contract. On the basis of the information contained in the complaint, the Commission expressed reservations about the legality of certain parts of the procedure in a letter sent to the Greek authorities, and has requested further information and comments from these authorities. Certain details which cast doubt on the legality of this contract have also appeared in the Greek press. Before concluding its examination, the Commission has, therefore, also attempted to determine the truth of these allegations. The examination of this dossier will be completed shortly. The fact that there have been delays in the construction of the building is certainly regrettable, but it is not up to the Commission to apportion responsibility. The Commission would also like to assure the Honourable Member that Community co-financing for carrying out this project will be re-examined once the Commission has concluded its final assessment of the aforementioned complaint. (2000/C 225 E/208) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2635/99 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Support for nuclear energy and renewable energies 1. Can the Commission provide details of all financial support received, firstly, by nuclear energy (including fusion) and, secondly, by renewable energies (solar and wind power) from the relevant budget titles of the general budget of the European Communities since the Communities were established? 2. If not, why not? Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission (1 March 2000) The Commission is sending the information requested direct Parliamentís Secretariat. to the Honourable Member and to (2000/C 225 E/209) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2645/99 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission (12 January 2000) Subject: Indian leather industry subsidies Last year I tabled a question (E-3882/99) (1) to the Commission which elicited a response referring me to the Commissionís reply to another question of mine (P-3790/98) (2), which had nothing to do with the new question at all. I would therefore repeat my request: will the Commission send me the list of projects funded by the EU in India helping the Indian leather industry (leather, footwear and fine leather goods), stating the date of approval and the objectives? (1) OJ C 142, 21. 5. 1999, p. 155. (2) OJ C 142, 21. 5. 1999, p. 150. C 225 E/188 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) The Commission is not currently financing any projects specifically benefiting the Indian leather industry, nor has it done so in recent years; nor are there any plans for financing such projects. The Commission regrets the error it made in its answer to written question E-3822/98 by the Honourable Member, referring him to a previous answer to his written question P-3790/98, which included informa- tion on aid to the Catalan leather industry (point 4. 6). (2000/C 225 E/210) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2659/99 by Othmar Karas (PPE-DE) to the Commission (22 December 1999) Subject: Impact on hunting of the designation of the Hohe Tauern (A) National Park as a Natura 2000 site The Hohe Tauern National Park in Austria has been designated a Natura 2000 site. In the Natura 2000 Newsletter No 5 of February 1998 the competent Directorate-General (XI) expressly states that hunting in the designated sites is not automatically prohibited under the Directive. Is it true that the Habitats Directive 92/43 (1) will have no impact on hunting in the Hohe Tauern National Park? In this area hunting has always played a considerable role in protecting and conserving species and biotopes and should continue to do so. Does the Commission agree that hunting is not to be interpreted as one of those disruptive factors which are prohibited under the Directive by reason of their significantly negative impact on the environment? The Commission has drafted guidelines for the application and interpretation by the Member States of Article 6 of the Directive. Why have these guidelines, which have been under discussion for over six months, still not been submitted to the European Parliament for its assessment and opinion? Do these guidelines contain any clarification regarding hunting in Natura 2000 areas? (1) OJ L 206, 22. 7. 1992, p. 7. Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission (17 January 2000) The inclusion of areas in Natura 2000 is not intended as a block on human activities (e. g. hunting). The emphasis is on ensuring that human activities are sustainable and not damaging to conservation values. in a Natura 2000 site, any Member States are responsible for taking appropriate steps to avoid, deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as significant disturbance of the species for which a site was designated. This corresponds to provisions laid down in Article 6(2) of Directive 92/ 43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directiveí). They concern both sites to be designated under the Habitats Directive, and sites designated under Directive 79/409/EEC of 2 April 1979, on the conservation of wild birds (1) (the Birds Directiveí). In this framework the question of hunting within Natura 2000 sites must be addressed on a case by case basis. How far restrictions on hunting in the national park of Hohe Tauerní are necessary or not, is to be determined by the Austrian authorities. Although not obligatory, the Habitats Directive identifies management plans, specifically designed for Natura 2000 sites or integrated into other development plans, as a valuable tool in providing a framework in which the different interests influencing such sites (e. g. hunting) can be adequately addressed