B4-0242/94

Resolution on the energy element of the POSEIMA programme

The European Parliament,

A.whereas the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores are characterized by their insular situation and extreme remoteness, their geographical situation being the root cause of major imbalances with regard to their socio-economic development,

B.having regard to the success of the POSEI programmes in improving living conditions in extremely remote regions and the fact that they are complementary and additional to the application of Community Support Frameworks and other policies of the European Union,

C.whereas the POSEIMA programme, which was adopted in 1991, includes an energy chapter providing for Community aid for a three-year period to compensate for the extra cost of transporting petroleum products by sea,

D.whereas at the end of the three-year period the Commission is supposed to evaluate these measures and review the situation, which it has still not done,

E.whereas the aid is granted only if the beneficiary regions devote at least 50% of the amount to incentive programmes to promote energy saving,

F.whereas the beneficiary islands have no access to any European energy transport network,

1.Calls on the Commission, as a matter of urgency, to publish the evaluation provided for in the energy chapter of the POSEIMA programme so that this aspect of the programme can continue;

2.Draws the attention of the Commission, and of the Council, to the fact that the failure to provide this evaluation promptly is likely to cause problems with regard to the budgetary procedure, particularly because, over the past three years, the budgetary solutions found for this aid have been different every time owing to the disputes regarding procedure and powers within the European Union institutions;

3.Considers that these regions, in particular, should not suffer on account of any institutional malfunctioning of the European Union;

4.Stresses the importance of conducting targeted, flexible policies, at European Union level, with tailored, specific programmes geared to the extreme remoteness of these two regions and to other regions which are subject to similar permanent handicaps;

5.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the governments of the Member States and the regional governments of Madeira and the Azores.