WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1018/98 by Rolf BEREND to the Commission. Funding of Weimar's reign as European City of Culture in 1999
11. 12. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 386/71 (98/C 386/092) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1002/98 by Gianni Tamino (V) to the Commission (2 April 1998) Subject: Flouting of Community legislation in the contracting procedure for the Cispadanaí road project Following Commissioner Bjerregaardís reply to my Written Question (E-3972/97) (1) concerning the Cispadanaí road project, I should like to inform the Commission that the stage of the contracting procedure at which the bidders submit their documentation was completed on 27 February 1998 but that this procedure was not carried out by the Italian authorities (Ministry of Public Works and ANAS) in accordance with the provisions of Directive 93/37/EEC (2). Has the Commission received the information requested from the Italian authorities and what conclusion has it reached? Does the Commission consider that, following the latest developments in this case, there are grounds for bringing Italy before the Court of Justice for failing to meet its obligations under the Treaty, pursuant to Article 169? (1) OJ C 196, 22. 6. 1998, p. 44. (2) OJ L 199, 9. 8. 1993, p. 54. Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (5 June 1998) The Commission is conducting a detailed investigation of the problem raised by the Honourable Member and will inform him of the outcome as soon as possible. (98/C 386/093) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1018/98 by Rolf Berend (PPE) to the Commission (6 April 1998) Subject: Funding of Weimarís reign as European City of Culture in 1999 In 1999, Weimar in Thuringia will be the European City of Culture. To date, the City of Culture scheme has been financed through the Kaleidoscope programme. Weimar will be an exception in that the Kaleidoscope programme finishes in December 1998. It is uncertain how Weimarís reign as European City of Culture will be funded. The City of Weimar and the Land of Thuringia need clarification of the financing arrangements soon. Will Weimarís reign as European City of Culture be financed as part of a pilot project and, if so, how, and how much funding will be allocated? Or is it planned in this case to extend the Kaleidoscope programme on a one-off basis? When can a final decision be expected? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (14 May 1998) Without prejudice to the decisions which will eventually be taken on this matter by the Community institutions and the budgetary authority in particular, the Commission is able to confirm that it is planning to continue in 1999 the financial support traditionally granted by the Community to the European City of Cultureí project. As regards the basis on which this grant will be paid, the Commission is proposing to use the preparatory stage of the framework programme on culture, currently in preparation within the Commission and scheduled to go before Parliament and the Council in May 1998