WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1048/98 by Jesús CABEZÓN ALONSO to the Commission. Subsidies for the metal-mining industry
C 386/74 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 12. 98 (98/C 386/097) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1048/98 by Jesœs Cabezón Alonso (PSE) to the Commission (6 April 1998) Subject: Subsidies for the metal-mining industry In its forthcoming review of the regulations governing European Union subsidies, has the Commission made provision for special subsidies for areas that will be suffering the social and economic consequences of closure of the metal-mining industry? Such aid would be designed to encourage reconversion in these traditionally industrial areas. Is the Commission aware that this situation is facing the metal-mining industry at Reocín in Spain, Kirnna in Sweden, Tara in Ireland and Pyhäsalmi in Finland, all of which are entering a state of crisis as a result of the exhaustion of their mineral reserves? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (28 May 1998) In its proposals for a new regulation laying down general provisions on the structural funds presented to Council and Parliament on 18 March 1998 (1), the Commission has proposed a new objective 2 for areas áfacing structural problems of socio-economic conversioní. On the basis of the criteria in the regulation, a list of areas would be drawn up by the Commission, in close consultation with the Member States, which would be eligible for support under the structural funds to promote economic diversification and the creation of new employment opportu- nities. The criteria contain specific provisions allowing areas with problems linked to their dependence on specific industrial sectors in decline to be included on the new objective 2 list. Such areas could include those where the problems relate to the decline of the extractive industry. However, final decisions on eligibility can only be taken once the regulations have been formally adopted and on the basis of the latest data available at that time. It is therefore too early at this stage to speculate on the eligibility of the individual areas to which the Honourable Member refers. (1) COM(98) 131 final. (98/C 386/098) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1054/98 by Josu Imaz San Miguel (PPE) to the Commission (6 April 1998) Subject: Cohesion Fund The Spanish Government recently set up the ACESA public company (Ebro district water company) with a capital of ESP 43 000 million. The companyís purpose is to carry out overdue hydraulic maintenance work in the Ebro valley. Much of this work concerns projects that have been waiting to be done for decades. Through ACESA the Spanish Government aims to obtain the private finance needed to tackle these projects in a relatively brief time-scale. The government of Aragón will be responsible for restoring the power lines, roads etc. that will be affected by the dams as a result. Could ACESA, as a concessionary undertaking, receive funding from the Cohesion Fund without the need for mediation by the Spanish Government? Could the Cohesion Fund finance the work to restore roads, power lines, residential developments etc. that might be affected by the dams?