# CE2004078EN.01094801.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/948 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/948

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(2004/C 78 E/1003)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0284/04

by Joachim Wuermeling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 February 2004)

Subject:   BEUC

Subject:

The European consumers' organisation BEUC regularly publishes expensive brochures printed in four colours on glossy paper, which promote the Commission's proposals in the field of consumer protection. For example, I am aware of the brochures on the Consumer Credit Directive and the Directive on health information on foodstuffs.

| 1. | Does the Commission subsidise these publications from the EU budget? |
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1.

Does the Commission subsidise these publications from the EU budget?

| 2. | What institutional funding does the BEUC receive from the EU budget? |
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2.

What institutional funding does the BEUC receive from the EU budget?

| 3. | Does the Commission believe that it is the BEUC's task to support the Commission's proposals with such forms of advertising? |
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3.

Does the Commission believe that it is the BEUC's task to support the Commission's proposals with such forms of advertising?

| 4. | What view does the Commission take of the allegation, made by Dr Beate Kohler-Koch on 15 May 2003 in Berlin, that the consumer associations are being exploited for the Commission's public relations work? |
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4.

What view does the Commission take of the allegation, made by Dr Beate Kohler-Koch on 15 May 2003 in Berlin, that the consumer associations are being exploited for the Commission's public relations work?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2004)

(4 March 2004)

| 1. | The Commission does not grant any specific Community funding for the production of publications by the BEUC. |
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1.

The Commission does not grant any specific Community funding for the production of publications by the BEUC.

| 2. | Every year, following a call for proposals, the Commission awards operational grants to European consumer organisations. This leads to a greater involvement of these organisations in Community policies, one of the three key objectives of the Strategy for Consumer Policy (2002-2006) which is supported by the Parliament. Moreover, this form of financial support has a clear legal basis in the provision for financing consumer-oriented activities (1). This total funding cannot exceed 50 % of the expenditure for eligible activities.
  The total Community funding to be awarded to the BEUC under these operational grants amounts to EUR 1 172 790 in 2004.
  Furthermore, the Commission regularly, and following a call for proposals, grants subsidies to specific projects which aim to promote consumer interests in Member States (Articles 2 C and 6 of Decision No 283/1999 and action 18 of Decision No 20/2004, aforementioned).
  Following the call for proposals published in September 2002 (2), the project ‘European Consumer Law Group’ submitted by the BEUC was selected (Community contribution requested: EUR 56 422,79).
  The subsidies awarded will be published shortly on the Internet site of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection. |
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2.

Every year, following a call for proposals, the Commission awards operational grants to European consumer organisations. This leads to a greater involvement of these organisations in Community policies, one of the three key objectives of the Strategy for Consumer Policy (2002-2006) which is supported by the Parliament. Moreover, this form of financial support has a clear legal basis in the provision for financing consumer-oriented activities (1). This total funding cannot exceed 50 % of the expenditure for eligible activities.

1

The total Community funding to be awarded to the BEUC under these operational grants amounts to EUR 1 172 790 in 2004.

Furthermore, the Commission regularly, and following a call for proposals, grants subsidies to specific projects which aim to promote consumer interests in Member States (Articles 2 C and 6 of Decision No 283/1999 and action 18 of Decision No 20/2004, aforementioned).

Following the call for proposals published in September 2002 (2), the project ‘European Consumer Law Group’ submitted by the BEUC was selected (Community contribution requested: EUR 56 422,79).

2

The subsidies awarded will be published shortly on the Internet site of the Directorate-General for Health and Consumer Protection.

| 3. | There is no connection between the subsidies awarded by the Commission and the statement of views of the BEUC. The Commission's objective is to enable consumers to promote their interests in order to be on an equal footing with the other forces in civil society represented at Community level. One of the criteria for awarding subsidies is the widest possible dissemination of the results of the activities and projects supported, without bias as to their content.
  The statement of views of the BEUC, its proposals for objectives and its work programme are adopted by the General Assembly of its members. The BEUC is a federation of 36 national and independent consumer organisations in Europe, including the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (VZVB) and the Stiftung Warentest. |
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3.

There is no connection between the subsidies awarded by the Commission and the statement of views of the BEUC. The Commission's objective is to enable consumers to promote their interests in order to be on an equal footing with the other forces in civil society represented at Community level. One of the criteria for awarding subsidies is the widest possible dissemination of the results of the activities and projects supported, without bias as to their content.

The statement of views of the BEUC, its proposals for objectives and its work programme are adopted by the General Assembly of its members. The BEUC is a federation of 36 national and independent consumer organisations in Europe, including the Federation of German Consumer Organisations (VZVB) and the Stiftung Warentest.

| 4. | The Commission was unaware of either the remarks made by Dr Beate Kohler-Koch or the criticism levelled against it. |
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4.

The Commission was unaware of either the remarks made by Dr Beate Kohler-Koch or the criticism levelled against it.

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(1)  Decision No 283/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999 establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers, OJ L 34, 9.2.1999 for the years 1999 to 2003 and Decision No 20/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 December 2003 establishing a general framework for financing Community actions in support of consumer policy for the years 2004 to 2007 (Text with EEA relevance), OJ L 5, 09.01.2004.

1

(2)  OJ C 218, 14.9.2002.

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