WRITTEN QUESTION E-2744/99 by Emilia Müller (PPE-DE) to the Commission. PHARE and Interreg II funds for the Czech Republic.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/103 At a recent management committee meeting the Member States in question were asked to give attention when granting aid to the destination of the distillation product. It is of course up to these Member Statesí supervising bodies to ensure compliance with Community rules. The Commission is at present reviewing the distillation aids for grape marc spirits and raw alcohol in the context of the reform of the common market organisation for the wine sector due to enter into force from the next wine year (1 August 2000). (2000/C 303 E/098) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2744/99 by Emilia Müller (PPE-DE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: PHARE and Interreg II funds for the Czech Republic How have the funds from the PHARE and Interreg II Programmes been used for the benefit of the environment in the Czech Republic? What projects were supported, and what amount of aid was allocated thereto? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) PHARE support in the area of the environment in the Czech Republic has been delivered through national programmes. In 1990-1991 there were projects to improve understanding of the environment and focus on immediate quality needs in the air, water, waste, energy and health sectors (€ 21 million). In 1996 an environment project loan facility supported small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) environmental protection projects (€ 5 million). In 1997 there was support to strengthen environmental management capacity in regulatory bodies (€ 2 million). In 1998 there was support to strengthen the institutional and regulatory capacity in the environment sector as well as implementation and investment strategies for Community air and waste directives (€ 1,15 million). In 1999 there was support for harmonisation of Czech environment legislation in the field of water protection (€ 1 million). Support was also delivered through cross-border cooperation (CBC) programmes. CBC with Austria between 1995 and 1998 financed 15 projects with emphasis on improvement of water quality (€ 11 mil- lion). The 1999 programme includes a waste water treatment plant improvement project in the border region (€ 3,55 million). Environmental improvement projects are also eligible for finance from the joint small projects fund (up to € 300 000) under this programme. CBC with Germany between 1994 and 1997 supported improvement of the municipal infrastructure, in particular the introduction of natural gas, with € 14 million being allocated for 13 projects. The 1998 programme supports a reforestation fund (€ 2,5 million), whilst in 1999 support is given for introduction of gas in the Nisa border region (€ 3,1 million), an air pollution reduction fund (€ 0,45 million), projects for improvements to sewerage systems and waste water plants (€ 5,94 million) as well as a joint small projects fund. CBC programmes were also established in 1999 with Poland and Slovakia. Both contain joint small projects funds, for which environmental projects are eligible. The Slovakia programme also contains an allocation of € 1,75 million for a border area waste water treatment plant. An allocation was made from the large-scale infrastructure facility 1999 of € 14,2 million for the Brno municipal water project. A further allocation of € 2,2 million was made for the preparation of a portfolio of projects to be financed from the instrument for structural policies for pre-accession (ISPA) from 2000 onwards. C 303 E/104 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 The Czech Republic is not eligible for support for Interreg II, as this Community initiative only finances expenditure incurred within Member States. Measures funded under this initiative are however closely co- ordinated with PHARE activities. An indirect benefit is therefore derived by the Czech Republic, e. g. through a reduction in pollution levels in its rivers, forests or air, through action taken under Interreg II on the German or Austrian side of the border. Finally the Czech Republic has benefited from various multi country programmes in the area of the environment, in particular the Black Triangle projects which focused mainly on small demonstration projects aimed at improving the quality of the environment in the Czech and Polish part of the Black Triangle. (2000/C 303 E/099) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2746/99 by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) and Christos Folias (PPE-DE) to the Commission Subject: Appointment of a Greek Director-General at the Commission (18 January 2000) The Commission is responsible for 36 Directorates-General and departments. Following the recent changes nationals of the following Member States have been appointed to head them: United Kingdom (eight), France (seven), Germany (six), Italy (four), Denmark (three), Spain (two), Netherlands (one), Sweden (one), Finland (one), Belgium (one) and Luxembourg (one). As of 1 January 2000 there will be no Director- General or Head of any of these 36 important departments from Greece (or two other small countries), although there was Greek representation until the only Greek Director-General, Mr Spyros Pappas, was removed ü somewhat unjustifiably, as it turns out. Can the Commission explain this unfair treatment, which discriminates against Greece, Portugal and Ireland and favours certain large countries, particularly the United Kingdom? Can it state whether there will be a Greek Director-General or Head of any of its Directorates-General or departments in the immediate future, and if so, to which of them the person concerned will be appointed? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (24 February 2000) The Commission has taken note of the concern expressed by the Honourable Members, although it would not be accurate to say that any treatment of the issues raised in their question has been unfair or discriminatory. The Commission reaffirms its ambition, reflected in its decision of 8 December 1999 on appointments to senior management posts in the Commission, to make appointments on merit whilst maintaining a broad balance of all Member Statesí nationalities at all levels of staff within the Institution in order to ensure the essential cultural diversity and cohesion of the European public service. To this end, the Commission has specifically stated its desire that suitably qualified civil servants from each Member State nationality are appointed at Grade A1 level as Director-Generals, Heads of Department or similar. In the very nature of civil service appointments systems in all Institutions, the Commission is never in a position to state which person from which nationality will be appointed to which head of service position before the conclusion of the appropriate appointments procedures. (2000/C 303 E/100) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2754/99 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: Support for action to combat drug dependence amongst young people Rural east Northamptonshire is a relatively prosperous area of the East Midlands but it has a substantial problem with youth drug abuse. The British Government has chosen not to include the county in its