# CE2004084EN.01077302.xml

| 3.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 84/773 |
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3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 84/773

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(2004/C 84 E/0870)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0331/04

by Miet Smet (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 February 2004)

Subject:   Setting up of a regional coordination centre for social policy for the Balkans

Subject:

Some considerable time ago the Commission announced the setting up, or joint setting up, of a regional coordination centre for social policy in the Balkans. The establishment of the centre was scheduled for spring 2004.

What is the situation as regards the establishment of this regional social policy coordination centre for countries in south-eastern Europe?

In particular:

| — | how far have preparations for setting up the centre come; |
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how far have preparations for setting up the centre come;

| — | what is the scheduled date for its activities to begin; |
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what is the scheduled date for its activities to begin;

| — | where will the centre be; |
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where will the centre be;

| — | what staff and financial resources will be assigned to the coordination centre; |
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what staff and financial resources will be assigned to the coordination centre;

| — | what are the centre's tasks; |
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what are the centre's tasks;

| — | what partners will be involved in the setting up and operation of the centre; |
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what partners will be involved in the setting up and operation of the centre;

| — | how will the countries in the region be involved in the setting up and operation of the centre? |
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how will the countries in the region be involved in the setting up and operation of the centre?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2004)

(16 March 2004)

The establishment of a regional co-ordination centre for social policy is envisaged as a continuation of the project: ‘Strengthening Social Cohesion by promoting Coordination of National Social Security Schemes in South Eastern Europe (SEE)’ under the auspices of the Initiative for Social Cohesion of the Stability Pact for SEE.

The regional co-ordination centre will be financed by the 2003 CARDS regional programme (EUR 2 million over three years) and established in close co-operation with the Council of Europe (co-financing EUR 200 000). The overall project implies more than the mere setting up of a regional co-ordination centre (the location of which has not yet been decided). The objective is to share with, and propose to, the national authorities various co-ordination instruments and to share EU ‘best practice’ in relation to matters with trans-border implications.

The activities of the project will focus on three major areas:

| — | support for co-operation on social protection reform; |
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support for co-operation on social protection reform;

| — | institutional support and vocational training in the social sector; |
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institutional support and vocational training in the social sector;

| — | support for social dialogue and information exchange, in particular regarding social and civil rights and trans-border questions (equal treatment, export of benefits, etc.). |
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support for social dialogue and information exchange, in particular regarding social and civil rights and trans-border questions (equal treatment, export of benefits, etc.).

Preparatory work for the establishment of the centre has been on-going since September 2003 and the terms of reference for the CARDS project are almost finished. Certain procedural details as well as the deployment of human and budgetary resources still need to be agreed between the Commission and the Council of Europe. However, it is envisaged that a direct agreement will soon be signed with the Council of Europe and that the activities of the centre will start at the latest at the beginning of June 2004.

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