91998E2289

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2289/98

by José Barros Moura (PSE) to the Commission

(22 July 1998)

Subject: Interreg drought programme for Spain

In view of the fact that the Interreg drought programme for Spain has been adopted with funding of ECU 107 million from the ERDF and the EAGGF, and in order to allow a comparison to be made with the way in which the case of the Alqueva reservoir (which has received a lower level of ERDF funding) was dealt with, would the Commission provide information regarding the terms and conditions under which the above funding was provided?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(9 October 1998)

The terms and conditions for financing the Alqueva reservoir arise from the general regulations governing the implementation of the Structural Funds and the specific conditions peculiar to this major project, as defined and approved by the Commission and the beneficiary Member State.

The terms and conditions for financing the Interreg drought programme for Spain are those that apply to any Community programme and are subject to the same general regulations with regard to the arrangements for granting and implementing Community assistance, the rules on the combining of different types of such assistance and the de minimis rules.

If a comparison is made with the ERDF funding of the Alqueva reservoir, the Honourable Member will find that the ERDF contributes to the Interreg-II-C Spain programme, which concerns seven Objective 1 regions (i.e. 344 189 km2 and 18,7 million inhabitants), the sum of ECU 56,65 million.

The Commission is forwarding directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat a copy of the press release, summary information sheet and programme, as approved, to which the decision taken by the Commission on 29 June 1998 relates.