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Document 92001E000459

    WRITTEN QUESTION E-0459/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Hainaut Objective 1 region.

    Úř. věst. C 318E, 13.11.2001, p. 47–47 (ES, DA, DE, EL, EN, FR, IT, NL, PT, FI, SV)

    European Parliament's website

    Date of document:
    19/02/2001; Den přenosu
    Date of dispatch:
    19/02/2001
    Date of reply:
    18/05/2001; Společná písemná odpověď
    Author:
    Evropský parlament, Not available
    Form:
    Písemný dotaz
    Addressee:
    Evropská komise
    Parliamentary term:
    páté volební období
    Political group:
    Skupina Zelených/Evropské svobodné aliance

    92001E0459

    WRITTEN QUESTION E-0459/01 by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Hainaut Objective 1 region.

    Official Journal 318 E , 13/11/2001 P. 0047 - 0047


    WRITTEN QUESTION E-0459/01

    by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

    (19 February 2001)

    Subject: Hainaut Objective 1 region

    According to the Commission, it is still too soon to say how many businesses based in West Flanders will move their registered offices to Hainaut in order to obtain European subsidies for the programme period 2000-2006. Between 1994 and 1999 about fifty businesses apparently surrendered to the enticement to move from Flanders to Hainaut.

    Can the Commission state:

    1. What businesses are involved?

    2. Why these West Flanders businesses have relocated in Hainaut, bearing in mind that the Community's has a particular interest where a firm undertaking a relocation has been supported by public funds either in its present or future location?

    Joint answer to Written Questions E-0408/01 and E-0459/01 given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

    (18 May 2001)

    Within the context of an Objective 1 programme, such as the one for the province of Hainaut in Belgium, support to enterprises can be given only in case of investments which are implemented in the geographical programme area. Whether or not a company has its registered office within or outside the programme area is irrelevant when it comes to the possible eligibility of its investments for support under the programme. Therefore, the Commission is of the opinion that the study suggested by the Honourable Member, which would focus on changes of registered offices, is not a useful way of gauging the possible impacts of the Hainaut Objective 1 programme.

    The impact of the programme, in terms of the location of production or service facilities, could be considered only at the level of decisions of companies to invest in the programme area. However, investment decisions are guided by a multitude of factors. It would most probably be difficult, if not impossible, at micro-economic level to single out the role of an Objective 1 programme in such decisions. Moreover, counterbalancing effects would have to be taken into account, since large areas of the province of West-Vlaanderen itself are eligible for support under the Objective 2 programme Kustgebied-Westhoek.

    In any case, it would be premature now to consider the question whether the Hainaut 2000-2006 programme will lead to a shift of investments from West-Vlaanderen to Hainaut: this issue could only be addressed after a substantial part of the programme has been implemented.

    Concerning the 1994-1999 programming period, the Commission will address a request to the authorities of the Walloon Region, requesting a list of enterprises which have their registered office in West-Flanders and have benefited from support for investments in the context of the 1994-1999 Hainaut Objective 1 programme.

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