# CE2004088EN.01015002.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/150 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/150

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(2004/C 88 E/0160)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3565/03

by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission

(2 December 2003)

Subject:   Enlargement preparations in EU border regions

Subject:

In the run-up to enlargement the European Union is making appropriations available under the programme of ‘Preparatory Actions on the Impact of Enlargement in the Border Regions of the EU’.

The arrangements for 2004 include publication of a call for proposals for ‘qualification initiatives for vulnerable groups of the labour force in EU regions bordering the candidate countries’ (1). One purpose of the project is to assist employees at risk from enlargement by using qualification and training measures to raise their occupational and geographical mobility. The programme provides for social partners, educational institutions, vocational training centres and universities located in an EU Member State to apply for a grant.

1

Why is it that, although the social partners as a whole are considered as eligible for assistance under this programme, individual employee organisations are not?

Will a call for proposals for qualification initiatives for vulnerable groups in border regions be published again in 2005? If so, will the range of organisations eligible for assistance then be extended to include employee representatives? If not, why not?

What other projects are included in the arrangements for implementing the programme of ‘Preparatory Actions on the Impact of Enlargement in the Border Regions of the EU’, in which employee representatives' organisations can take part?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2004)

(5 February 2004)

The organisations eligible for the call for proposals to which the Honourable Member refers were ‘social partners, educational institutions, vocational training centres and universities’. ‘Social partners’ encompasses organisations representing employers and/or trade unions. Accordingly, individual employee organisations are eligible for assistance. Applications are currently under evaluation. At least two trade union organisations have submitted applications.

The Union budget does not provide for further measures in this field in the 2004 budget, hence no calls for proposals can be expected in 2005.

As part of the programme of ‘Preparatory Actions on the Impact of Enlargement in Border Regions of the Union’, trade union organisations were eligible as partners in the following calls for proposals:

| — | ELARG/1/140503/SME/B53003: ‘Regional Partnership Events for Micro-enterprises in Union Regions Bordering the Candidate Countries with a focus on Support Services’ (2). |
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ELARG/1/140503/SME/B53003: ‘Regional Partnership Events for Micro-enterprises in Union Regions Bordering the Candidate Countries with a focus on Support Services’ (2).

2

| — | ELARG/3/140503/ADM/B53003: ‘Cross Border Initiatives for Local and Regional Authorities in Union Regions Bordering the Candidate Countries’ (2). |
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ELARG/3/140503/ADM/B53003: ‘Cross Border Initiatives for Local and Regional Authorities in Union Regions Bordering the Candidate Countries’ (2).

2

Proposals received in response to the above calls are currently being evaluated by the relevant committees. Applicants will be notified of the outcome once the evaluation process has been completed within the next few weeks.

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(1)  OJ C 206, 2.9.2003, p. 25.

1

(2)  OJ C 206, 2.9.2003.

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