WRITTEN QUESTION E-0406/00 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Council. Compensation for German shipping and transport firms operating on the Danube following the closing of the Yugoslav section of the Danube.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/153 Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission (20 March 2000) As indicated in the report (available on the Europa website at http://europa. eu. int/comm/dg24/), to which the Honourable Members refer, the mission team comprised two vets from the Commission, and one from the Finnish ministry of Agriculture. Two members of the team were fluent in Russian, which was the language used during the mission. It proved impossible to obtain official interpretation support for the third inspector. For these reasons, it was necessary to take exceptional measures, which fell outside normal food and veterinary office practices, to ensure the successful performance and completion of the mission. To this end, the assistance of an interpreter for the third inspector, provided through the Swedish-owned exporting company, was accepted. In addition, the mission programme was finalised with the regional, rather than the central, official veterinary services, with assistance from the Swedish exporting company. A director of that company travelled with the team to assist with travel arrangements, but he did not form part of the team and, as is made clear in the report, did not participate in any of the technical meetings during the mission. The performance of the mission, and the reporting of its findings, conclusions and recommendations, were in no way prejudiced by this arrangement. All travel and accommodation arrangements were made fully in accordance with Commission rules. The Commission is very aware of the need to ensure that consumers have confidence in the impartiality of its inspection and control activities. The findings of the mission, as is evidenced by the publication of the report, were achieved in a fully transparent and independent manner. They were accepted by the Member States in the standing veterinary committee on 10th February 1999. (2000/C 330 E/173) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0406/00 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Council (16 February 2000) Subject: Compensation for German shipping and transport firms operating on the Danube following the closing of the Yugoslav section of the Danube A number of firms in Regensburg (Germany) are specialised in transport operations from Germany to destinations below Yugoslavia on the Danube. As a result of the war in Kosovo,the destruction of bridges over the Danube, and the subsequent closure of the Yugoslav section of the Danube the business operations of these firms have come to a halt. Since these firms specialise in vey specific transport operations on the Danube, they have practically no possibility of branching out into other areas of activity. Can the Council therefore provide the following information: 1. Should these firms be regarded as victims of the Kosovo war in the same way as firms situated in Kosovo itself? 2. Are these firms eligible for financial restructuring aid to offset their losses? 3. Are these companies entitled to non-reimbursable aid for restructuring or consolidation to offset their ongoing losses and to publicly guaranteed investment aid? Reply (2 May 2000) The Council informs the Honourable Member that it is for the Commission to decide on aid granted by Member States under the provisions of Articles 87 et seq of the EC Treaty