WRITTEN QUESTION E-2141/99 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Consulting operators in the AL-Invest Programme.
C 225 E/58 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 8. 8. 2000 The Commission does not have the requested information regarding the number of people employed in duty-free shops. The reason for this is that statistical data is only available on employment in the whole retail sector as such (2). In its analysis of the employment aspects of the Councilís decision, the Commission therefore based itself on industry estimates of jobs affected by the abolition of duty-free sales (3). These aggregate estimates however did not disclose the underlying employment figures for duty-free shops. As regards the employment impact of the abolition, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to the reply given to written question E-1999/99 by Mr Davies (4). (1) COM(1999) 65. (2) Retailing in the European Economic Area 1997, Luxembourg 1998í by the European Commission (Statistical Office of the European Communities, DG XXI). See point 5 of the communication. (3) (4) OJ C 203 E, 18. 7. 2000, p. 109. (2000/C 225 E/057) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2141/99 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Consulting operators in the AL-Invest Programme On 23 September last the LAADC committee approved a new financial framework for the AL-Invest Programme covering the next four years. The programmeís operators apparently had little opportunity to participate in the preparatory discussions. To be more precise, the European side was not consulted at all, whilst just one meeting was held with the Latin American side. Does the Commission not believe that a system of communication ought to be set up to guarantee closer involvement for those concerned, with a view to enhancing the programmeís effectiveness and guaran- teeing the transparency in the Commission services called for by Parliament? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (6 December 1999) As to the first part of the question, the Commission would emphasise that direct contact with the operators is paramount. To this end, meetings were held in London (1998) and Barcelona (1999) under the title Connectí to enable operators to exchange ideas with the Commission over two days (in addition to the direct contacts between operators to prepare proposals for business encounters, which was the primary function of Connect). Each of these meetings enabled us to take stock of all the technical, administrative and financial aspects on which the success of the programme depends. Connect will be held in autumn each year between 2000 and 2004. In addition, direct and individual contact with operators takes place as necessary by e-mail and by post. Moreover a Web site has been set up, with a ámembers onlyí Intranet section reserved for operators (www. al-invest. org). The technical secretariat set up to support and advise operators will be maintained up to the end of 2005. This demonstrates the extent of the communications system made available to operators. As to the conferences organised in 1999 in connection with Phase 2 of Al-Invest, one was held for European operators (February 1999), one for Latin American operators (June 1999), and one for both European and Latin American operators (October 1999, Connect, Barcelona). There was only one significant change to the timetable: Phase 2 was presented to the LAADC Committee on 23 September 1999 instead of 14 October 1999: this may perhaps have taken some operators by surprise. The reason was quite simply that this enabled Phase 2 to be financed from 1999 instead of from the 2000 budget as initially proposed, which obviated the need for a stop-gap between Phases 1 and 2 of Al-Invest. 8. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 225 E/59 Moreover, the Commission received the recommendations made at the meeting of the Spanish Coopecos on 20 September 1999 in good time and intends at all events to deal with them appropriately. (2000/C 225 E/058) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2143/99 by Guido Viceconte (PPE-DE) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Serious damage to chestnut groves in various parts of Calabria The sharp drop in night-time temperatures in early October caused considerable damage to chestnut groves, seriously jeopardising the entire harvest in various parts of Calabria, particularly in the munici- palities of Cicala, Sorbo San Basile, Gimigliano, Carlopoli, Sersale, Petronà, Petilia, Mesorarca, San Pietro Apostolo, Serrastretta, Decollatura, Soveria Mannelli, Conflenti, Platania, Fossato Serralta, Pentone, Pedivi- gliano, Colosomini, Bianchi, Panettieri, Taverna and many others. Can the Commission take action to support the areas stricken by this disaster, given that a large portion of the local population earns a living primarily from the harvesting, processing and marketing of chestnuts? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (6 January 2000) Community legislation does not authorise the Commission to intervene to provide compensation for losses of income caused by natural disasters. Council Regulation (EEC) No 2085/93 of 20 July 1993 amending Regulation (EEC) No 4256/88 laying down provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) Guidance Section (1) (for the period 19941999) and Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF) and amending and repealing certain Regulations (2) (for the period 2000-2006) provide only for the possibility of assistance from the EAGGF for the reconstitution of agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and the introduction of appropriate means of prevention. Measures will be selected and proposed by the national or regional authorities, as appropriate. In the case of the natural disaster in question it is therefore for the regional government of Calabria to determine whether the nature of the damage is such that it is possible for the EAGGF to provide part-financing under the abovementioned legislation. The Member States are currently drawing up the programmes for 2000-2006 and according to the information available there are no plans for EAGGF aid to be granted in the case referred to. (1) OJ L 193, 31. 7. 1993. (2) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2000/C 225 E/059) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2153/99 by Roberta Angelilli (NI) to the Commission (24 November 1999) Subject: Working conditions and competition at Piaggio Over the past few months the Italian Government has granted special incentives for the scrapping of motorcycles. This has led to a higher turnover for motorcycle manufacturers. At the same time, however,