WRITTEN QUESTION E-0106/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Financial support for infrastructure in the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe ‐ quality of projects.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/25 (2000/C 374 E/030) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0106/00 by Juan Ojeda Sanz (PPE-DE) to the Commission (26 January 2000) Subject: Financial support for infrastructure in the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe ü quality of projects Given that the European Union provides considerable economic support to the applicant countries in Central and Eastern Europe in order to improve the level and quality of their infrastructure in preparation for an enlarged single market (Phare programme, Ispa instrument), will the Commission draw up technical recommendations to be taken into account in infrastructure projects for which funding is provided so as to ensure a level of quality which will guarantee interoperability between those networks and Union networks? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (24 March 2000) Assistance under the Instrument for structural policies for pre-accession (ISPA) is available for transport infrastructure projects that also promote sustainable mobility, as well as for environment measures. Energy and telecommunications projects can be financed through PHARE. Transport projects eligible for support from ISPA will enable beneficiary countries to comply with the acquis that exists in this sector. ISPA will also contribute to achieving the objectives of the accession partnerships as well as to the interconnection and interoperability of national transport networks and the construction of the Trans-European transport networks together with access to these networks. The Commission has drawn up a reference framework for the funding of transport infrastructure under ISPA. This document, which was examined by the ISPA management committee in December 1999, sets out conditions determining the eligibility of projects for funding under ISPA. All modes of transport are eligible for assistance, although railway transport will be favoured on the grounds of encouraging sustainable mobility. Priority will be given to projects to improve interconnection and interoperability. Assistance for the technical preparation of projects for assistance is available in an effort to improve quality. In the telecommunications sector, candidate countries are required to adopt the acquis which includes the relevant European and international standards. The Phare multi-country programmes have provided training in this area. Community policy in this field is to encourage private capital participation in the development of the sector such as the international financial institutions and commercial banks. The risks to investors are reduced by the insistence on the adoption of the stable regulatory framework defined in the acquis. Interoperability with and between candidate countries has largely been achieved. (2000/C 374 E/031) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0119/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission (27 January 2000) Subject: Turnover tax on passenger transport ü EU Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 Directive 77/388/EEC (1) of 17 May 1977 refers to turnover tax on passenger transport. At present only three of the fifteen Member States (Austria, Germany and Belgium) have transposed this directive and levy turnover tax on passenger transport through their territory. This imposes extra red tape and cost on passenger transport operators offering passenger transport through these three countries. This state of affairs is hardly compatible with the principles of freedom of movement and the promotion of cross- border activities