91997E2397

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2397/97 by Carles-Alfred Gasòliba i Böhm (ELDR) to the Commission (10 July 1997)

Subject: Use of Cohesion Fund resources

One third of the territory of the Valencia Region is affected by serious erosion and desertification. The regional authorities allocated 1 932 million from the Cohesion Fund to combat this process in 1996.

Can the Commission supply information about the use of these resources in 1996?

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (12 September 1997)

The Commission is conscious of the problems of soil erosion and desertification in many parts of Spain, including the region of Valencia. In order to help combat these problems, the Commission approved assistance from the Cohesion fund for a number of projects in 1995 and early 1996 aimed at reafforestation, forestry treatment, erosion control and the regeneration of areas damaged by fire in all the major river basins of Spain. Some projects which were presented by the Spanish authorities in 1996 were approved for assistance in July 1997. The latest decisions granting assistance might include projects located within the territory of the autonomous region of Valencia (basins of the Ebro, Jùcar/Levante and Segura).

Complementary information is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat general of Parliament.