Trade and Industry written question – answered at on 22 May 2002.
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
(1) what the mandate of the Committee for granting community financial aid in the field of trans-European energy networks is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement;
(2) what the mandate of the committee for the implementation of the series of guidelines for trans- European energy networks is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.
The mandate of the committee granting Community financial aid in the field of trans-European energy networks (energy TENS) is Council Regulation 2236/95 (TENS Financial Assistance). Its role is to select EU energy infrastructure projects to receive financial support under the Community's guidelines for trans- European energy networks. These guidelines are agreed by the Committee for the implementation of the guidelines established under Decision 1254/EC. Eligible projects are those needed for effective integration and operation of the EU's energy market and in order to enhance the EU's security of energy supply.
The (energy) TENS financial aid committee has met once over the last 12 months. UK representation is by an official from this Department. It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the committee without incurring disproportionate cost. The (energy) TENS guidelines committee usually meets annually but has not met in the last 12 months. It is not possible to calculate the cost to public funds of the work of the committee without incurring disproportionate cost.
The European Commission has made proposals for changes to the form of funding and the definition of priority axes or links. In terms of accountability and transparency to Parliament, this Department has submitted two Explanatory Memoranda to the Commons Scrutiny Committee:
EM 7291/2 concerning the European Commission's amended proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EC) No. 2236/95/EC laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks, at its meeting on
EM 6990/2 concerning the European Commission's Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No. 1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines for trans-European energy networks.
These documents were considered at the Scrutiny Committee's meeting of
Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
As an obligation to this Decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report on the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on
As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.
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