WRITTEN QUESTION E-0543/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Draft new Community framework on State aid for environmental protection.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/101 It is also continuing, as part of the preparations for the launch of future negotiations, the sustainability impact assessment, which includes an examination of the potential impact on the environment of further liberalisation and changes to WTO rules. The Parliament has been kept informed of the progress of this project and members have been invited to meetings with Member States and civil society on it. The Commission has sought to involve non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations both at the level of the WTO and at the Community level. The Member of the Commission responsible for trade held a number of consultations with NGOs before Seattle. In the WTO the Commission has made proposals for increased transparency in terms of document availability. It continues to reflect on further means to improve transparency and dialogue with the NGO community, both at the level of the Community, and in the context of the WTO. Regarding the transmission of information to the Parliament, the Honourable Member is aware of the commitment by the Commission to provide documents and information on a regular basis to the Parliament, both during the preparation and in the course of negotiations, as appropriate. (2000/C 374 E/116) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0543/00 by Hiltrud Breyer (Verts/ALE) to the Council (2 March 2000) Subject: Draft new Community framework on State aid for environmental protection The Commission is currently discussing with the Member States an important document on a Community framework for State aid for environmental protection. This is to come into force in July 2000. The Community framework is essential for the management of State environmental aid, for example with regard to Member Statesí promotion of renewable energy sources. 1. What are the main criteria by which the Council judges State aid for environmental protection? 2. More precisely, what approach to support for renewable energy sources underlies the Community framework? How will the Council ensure the transparency and cooperation with Parliament promised by the 3. Commission President, Romano Prodi? Reply (18 May 2000) The Council has, on many occasions, emphasised the importance of promoting renewable sources of energy as a means of achieving the goals of both energy policy and environment policy. In this context, the Commission is to submit a proposal for a Directive on access for electricity from renewables to the internal electricity market in the very near future. With respect to state aid, the Council recalls its Resolution on renewable sources of energy (1), adopted on 8 June 1998 in which it noted áthat Member States choose the most appropriate means of promoting use of renewables which are best suited to their national circumstances and are in conformity with Treaty obligations and comply with Community state aid guidelines for environmental protectioní. Moreover, the Council welcomed the intention of the Commission áto consider appropriate modifications in favour of renewable energy sources during the revision of the guidelines for Community state aidí. (1) OJ C 198, 8. 6. 1998, p. 1