WRITTEN QUESTION E-2010/99 by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission. OCT association arrangements.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/115 The Commission has decided to issue a communication on this topic and to offer for further discussion significantly more detailed information than was contained in the report. This communication has been awaited for a year now. What stage has the Commission reached in the drafting of this communication? What progress is the Commission making, and what is its timetable for further action, on the subject of libraries? (1) OJ C 341, 9. 11. 1998, p. 373. Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (3 December 1999) The report to which the Honourable Member refers is important, raising significant issues for libraries in the modern world. The Commission recognises too that libraries exist in a wider context with archives and museums, the other cultural institutions, in providing and safeguarding citizensí access to knowledge and culture in a modern networked information society. While fully supportive of the committeeís work, the Commission is considering whether and how best to take account of this wider context, in particular in the light of the work being undertaken in the field of the information society under the Fifth framework programme and with a view to producing concrete frameworks for coordination and cooperation between the various memory institutions in the coming months. (2000/C 203 E/146) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2010/99 by Jean-Claude Fruteau (PSE) to the Commission (9 November 1999) Subject: OCT association arrangements There appears to be some confusion as to the nature of the European Unionís relations with the OCT countries, which have links with only four Member States (United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and Denmark). While the European Union plays an essential role in the development of the former OCTs that have become ACP states, it appears to have abandoned the remaining OCTs, which are viewed as hybrids. Ambivalence in terms of legal status, unanimous decision-making in the Council and áartificial trade flowsí which contribute little to development in the OCTs but have a highly disruptive effect on the Community market are just some of the very real difficulties experienced by these countries. With the signature of the Treaty of Amsterdam, the Intergovernmental Conference invited áthe Council, acting in accordance with the provisions of Article 136 of the Treaty ( ) to review the association arrangements ( ) by February 2000, with [a] fourfold objective. í What specific measures does the Commission intend to propose to the Council to further the aims of economic and social development, progress in EU-OCT relations, taking greater account of the diversity and specific characteristics of the OCTs and, finally, improving the financial instrument? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (17 November 1999) The Honourable Member rightly refers to the declaration on the overseas countries and territories (OCTs) in the Final Act of the Amsterdam Conference. Following that declaration the Commission entered into consultations with the four Member States to which the 20 OCTs are linked and also, under the partnership arrangements, with the authorities of the 20 OCTs in question, who met in Brussels at the highest level for the first time. C 203 E/116 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 in the Commissionís The main ideas to emerge from these wide-ranging consultations are set out communication of 20 May 1999, The status of OCTs associated with the EC and options for OCT 2000í (1) in which the Commission describes the OCTs and their position under Community law, opens a fundamental debate on the OCT association and offers policy proposals for 2000. Shortly, the Commission will draw up a proposal to present to the Council concerning arrangements to succeed the current Association Decision after 1 March 2000. The substance of the proposal is still under discussion and should be largely based on the suggestions of the OCTs themselves. Proposals will include: a better definition of their status under secondary legislation, substantial simplification of the Communityís aid by more decentralisation of its management to the beneficiary countries and territories; extension of cooperation to new areas in order to help the OCTs meet the new challenges of the global economy; and a greater effort to meet the OCTsí wishes on the subject of non-reciprocity of the rules of establishment. (1) COM(1999) 163 final. (2000/C 203 E/147) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2019/99 by Astrid Thors (ELDR) to the Commission (29 October 1999) Subject: EU-PHARE R09893-02 Support for child protection reform in Romania The Commission has suspended the invitation to tender in respect of the above programme of aid for structural reforms in the childcare sector in Romania. Instead, it is allocating the entire 1998 budget for childcare in Romania (€ 10 million) to providing basic supplies of food, medicine and the like for children in institutions. Budgetary resources are being allocated in a similar way for 1999. Children in Romania live in exceptionally harsh conditions which necessitate both short-term support measures and long-term reforms in order to safeguard their rights and ensure that they are cared for. The reallocation of budgetary resources means that the long-term measures will not be implemented. This will delay the reforms that the Commissionís strategy document on enlargement says are a precondition for opening EU membership negotiations with Romania. The Commission President placed particular empha- sis on this condition when he spoke to Members of the European Parliament on enlargement on 13 October 1999. Is the Commissionís suspension of support for structural reforms in the childcare sector not inconsistent with the priority it accords to such reforms? Are there no other means of ensuring short-term support for children in institutions in Romania that would not jeopardise the long-term reforms, and when does the Commission intend to resume providing support for the reform effort? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (24 November 1999) The 1997 Commission opinion (1) and successive regular reports (2) have highlighted the serious situation in the field of childcare in Romania. PHARE has contributed funds since the early nineties, first as humanitarian assistance, later focussing on the preparation of a reform of the child protection sector. The Commission has always worked on both the short term and longer term aspects of child care in Romania. Living conditions in all child care institutions have deteriorated very seriously in 1999 as a result of financial and administrative problems. The Prime Minister of Romania, Mr Vasile, requested urgent assistance in May 1999. At the request of the Commission, inspectors have visited institutions to identify humanitarian needs and have reported that while conditions are not equally bad in all institutions, the general situation in summer 1999 could only be described as unacceptable in terms of basic infrastructure as well as hygiene, medical care, nutrition and general assistance