91999E1979

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1979/99

by Michael Gahler (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 November 1999)

Subject: Involving rural districts (Landkreise) in twinning schemes

In recent years town twinning schemes have proved an efficient means of European integration, since they encourage a coming together of citizens of different Member States. This is why the European Union supports these exchanges through budget line A-321. However, this form of support does not apply to rural districts although here, too, an exchange of experience would have a very positive result in terms of European integration.

1. What prospects does the Commission see of involving rural districts in promoting partnership arrangements, without any reduction in the funding currently available for towns and cities?

2. Does the Commission have plans for any other measures to provide financial support for exchanges between rural districts, for example in the form of grants to organisations advancing the idea of Europe (budget line A-3021)?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1999)

1. Financial aid under budget heading A-3210 is specifically earmarked for town-twinning. This is why most of the appropriations are provided in connection with the twinning of towns and municipal districts. The use to which this aid is put is reviewed at the end of each year in close consultation with the representatives of Parliament and the national associations of administrative authorities.

During the discussions on 8 December 1998 concerning guidelines for the programme in 1999, the representatives of Parliament and the national associations of administrative authorities considered that it would be wise not to extend Part I of this programme to intermediate administrative units (Kreise, départements, provinces), since a decision to do so would have meant a reduction in the appropriations available for towns and municipal districts. The programme is nevertheless open to intermediate administrative units to the extent that training, information and twinning-support measures are aimed at twinned municipal districts within their territory.

Therefore, as regards Parts II (events) and III (training seminars for organisers of town-twinning schemes), the information note from the Commission setting out the criteria and guidelines for measures in 1999 states that funding may be provided for twinning schemes involving towns in the same region. This also applies, of course, to twinning schemes involving towns in the same Landkreis.

Furthermore, the criteria applying for the year 2000 were discussed in detail at the conference on European Town Twinning for the Third Millennium held in Bilbao from 3 to 5 December 1999.

2. No, the Commission does not intend to use the appropriations under heading A-3021 for twinning schemes as such. This budget heading is intended to provide funding for pro-European non-governmental organisations, and not for specific projects. Local and regional authorities belong to governmental organisations, which is why Landkreise are not eligible for financial support. In the past, funding was provided to organisations whose activities were partly concerned with twinning schemes. In any event, if Parliament follows the advice of its Committee on Budgets, the unallocated appropriations under this heading will only amount to 145 000.