WRITTEN QUESTION No. 502/99 by Susan WADDINGTON International Association for the Promotion of Cooperation with Scientists from the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (INTAS)
C 370/46 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 12. 1999 The Commission shares the Honourable Member’s opinion on the need for a study analysing the consequences of the case law of the Court of Justice, as enshrined in the Kohll and Decker judgments, for the social security systems of the Member States and for Community law. It will therefore take the necessary measures to launch such a study. (1999/C 370/059) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0502/99 by Susan Waddington (PSE) to the Commission (5 March 1999) Subject: International Association for the Promotion of Cooperation with Scientists from the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (INTAS) What is the relationship between the European Union and the International Association for the Promotion of Cooperation with Scientists from the New Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (INTAS)? Is it a recipient of Community funds, and if so how much? Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (16 April 1999) Following the break-up of the former Soviet Union, the Community wished to provide urgently needed support to the scientists concerned by promoting co-operation with scientists from the Member States. The third framework programme for research and technological development (RTD) which was in operation at that time did not foresee such urgent support. It was therefore decided to set up INTAS in 1993 as a pilot action outside the framework programme in the form of an intergovernmental ‘association sans but lucratif’ (ASBL) under private Belgian law. Members of INTAS are currently the Community, the Member States, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Israel. In the fourth and the fifth framework programmes for RTD, INTAS has been mentioned as one of the instruments available to implement the specific programme in the field of cooperation with third countries and international organisations. At present, INTAS is established for a period lasting until 31 December 2002. The role of the Commission is mainly to provide the funds for the financial assistance to projects and for the functioning of the secretariat; to follow-up and control all legal and financial aspects according to Community regulations; to in which the Community has a right of veto and to second a chair the INTAS general assembly, Commission official as secretary ( a few further officials have been also seconded). The INTAS budget 1993-1998 totalled € 121 millions of which € 111,5 millions were for scientific activities leaving 7,85 % for administration. Around 95 % of the budget is provided from the second activity of the fourth framework programme (INCO programme). The remaining 5 % come from the annual contribution of Switzerland plus the INTAS member states’ additional voluntary contributions. In the fifth framework programme of the Community on science and technology, INTAS has allocated from the INCO 2 programme (international cooperation) € 70 millions of the € 112 millions intended for actions involving the states of the former Soviet Union. (1999/C 370/060) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0507/99 by Klaus Lukas (NI) to the Commission (8 March 1999) Subject: Embezzlement in Bulgaria 1. Is there any truth in press reports that 20 members of the board of the foundation set up by the Commission to promote civil society primarily helped themselves to EU resources for the development of democracy?