WRITTEN QUESTION P-2851/00

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(5 September 2000)

Subject: Aid from the European Union to NGOs in Denmark

1. Which private organisations (NGOs) active in Denmark in the field of action to combat racism and xenophobia receive aid from the European Union?

2. How much money does each of these organisations receive?

3. What documentary evidence does the Commission have to show that the aid granted is being used for the stated purposes?

4. What documentary evidence does the Commission have to show that the recipient organisations are democratically run or that their leaders represent actual legitimate interest groups that are able to fulfil the objectives in respect of which money has been requested?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2000)

Up until 1998, budget line B3-4114 (Measures to combat racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism) allowed funding of specific actions against racism and xenophobia. In 1998, one organisation in Denmark, AOF The Workers Education Association (Vejle) received funding ( 106 258 for a project of multicultural training of employers and employees Xenobus Europa bussen der Abner Dore).

In 1999, budget line B3-2006 (pilot projects on multicultural integration) allowed funding of pilot actions in this field, but no Danish organisation was selected as a direct beneficiary under the calls for proposals published by the Commission. Since these calls for proposals called for a trans-national partnership, some of the beneficiaries work in partnership with Danish organisations.

For 2000, budget line B5-803 allows the Commission to prepare for the new Community programme on combating discrimination proposed by the Commission on 25 November 1999(1) in the framework of a package of proposals under Article 13 of the EC Treaty. In this context, the Commission wishes to subsidise initiatives which contribute to the development of policies and practice to combat discrimination on grounds of racial and ethnic origin, religion and belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. The selection process for projects to be funded in 2000 is nearing completion following a call for proposals.

The Commission examines the proposals for funding submitted in the framework of calls for proposals on the basis of a complete description of the initiative and supporting documents. These documents include the statutes of the organisation confirming its status under national law, evidence of their experience in the field and their ability to manage Community funds. This evidence is examined before the Commission agrees to provide a subsidy for the planned action.

Projects selected for funding are required to send intermediate reports, a final statement of accounts and a final report on the outcome of the project. These documents are verified and evaluated before payment of the last instalment of the subsidy. Audits are carried out on a regular basis and on an ad hoc basis whenever doubts about sound management of a specific project arise. Moreover, the Commission has contracted an independent organisation to carry out an evaluation of the projects funded in 1999.

(1) COM(1999) 567 final.