91997E2072

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2072/97 by Jaak Vandemeulebroucke (ARE) to the Commission (19 June 1997)

Subject: Community environmental grant

Under budget heading B4-306, subsidies are granted for environmental protection. A list of organizations which have received such subsidies was published in OJ C 148 of 16 May 1997.

What project was submitted by the 'Fédération européenne pour le transport et l'environnement'?

Can the Commission supply more information about this organization? Can it supply a copy of the organization's bye-laws and a recent list of the members of its committee?

To what extent has the Commission verified that the funds have been spent correctly?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (22 September 1997)

The 'Fédération européenne pour le transport et l'environnement' was awarded funding towards its 1996 work programme. This funding was not for a project as such, but is known as 'activity funding'. It covered general functioning expenses associated with the work programme, as well as specific expenses linked to the activities in that programme. The programme involved research and general awareness raising on the environmental impact of transport and of ways of addressing the consequent problems. Activities included publications, conferences, seminars and lobbying campaigns. The organisation cooperates regularly and effectively with the Commission in promoting environmental awareness and furthering the aims of Community environment policy.

The Commission is sending directly to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat the relevant extract from the 'Moniteur Belge' which contains the statutes of the above-mentioned organisation, as well the current list of its board members.

A routine control has recently been satisfactorily concluded by the Commission, including financial control, on the activities on this organisation in 1996.