WRITTEN QUESTION E-0827/96 by Rinaldo Bontempi (PSE) and Maria Colombo Svevo (PPE) to the Commission (12 April 1996)

Subject: Multiannual programme for the social economy

1. Is it true that the Commission is hesitating over rapidly proposing a second multiannual programme of work for cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations in the Community now that the first programme is coming to an end?

2. If so, would this not seriously undermine the credibility of recent declarations and initiatives by the Commission, which has urged Member States on several occasions to make better use of and give some thought to the role these organizations can play in combating unemployment in the European Union?

3. The Commission's activities have repeatedly shown that, while respecting the rules of a market economy, cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations could foster a spirit of solidarity among European citizens, by helping to create new sources of employment never before explored by the Member States. Would it not be contradictory if Community initiatives in favour of such bodies were discontinued?

4. It should not be forgotten that Parliament has always been in favour of a Community policy for this sector, which would be managed by the Commission and made possible through funding obtained by means of Parliament's own margins of manoeuvre as budgetary authority. Can the Commission ignore Parliament's wishes in this matter?

5. The European organizations representing cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations recently set up a European advisory committee for the sector in question. This committee's key aim is to cooperate with the Community institutions in proposing, selecting and implementing measures which can make the idea of a people's Europe into a reality. If the Commission were to refuse to propose a programme for the next four years for such bodies, would this not give European citizens the impression that it was not interested in mobilizing all resources and potential which could help consolidate their sense of belonging to the European Union?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1996)

1. The multi-annual programme (1994-96) of work for cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations in the Community ((OJ C 87 of 24 March 1994. )) was adopted by the Commission on 16 February 1994. Due to the elections in June 1994, the Parliament was not able to give its opinion until the March 1995 session, and the Commission forwarded its amended proposal ((Doc. COM(95) 253 final. )) to the Council in May 1995. The examination of this document by the Council, which began in June 1995, is continuing under the Italian presidency.

The Commission has, nevertheless, been able to apply the measures foreseen by this programme, thanks to appropriations entered by the budgetary authority three years ago under the specific heading B5-321 on the 'social economy'.

The Commission is awaiting the results of the Council's examination of its proposal. The Italian presidency wishes to continue this work in order to reach a common position on the 1994-1996 programme.

2. This action would appear to be in full accord with the declarations and initiatives which the Commission has consistently adopted in favour of this sector since 1990.

3. Having repeatedly stressed the importance of this sector as, among other things, a source of new jobs and of increased solidarity among citizens, the Commission has no intention of discontinuing its actions in favour of cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations.

4. The Commission is aware that the Parliament, in accord with the most representative movements and the Economic and Social Committee, has given priority to defining a policy in favour of cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations. This is why it intends to submit to the budgetary authority the principle of strengthening the specific budget heading on the 'social economy' for 1997, in order to avoid any interruption in funding for actions already under way and for starting up new actions such as those set out in the future White Paper on associations.

5. As already mentioned under point 4, the Commission has, on several occasions, consulted the European advisory committee on cooperatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations on drawing up the new programme for 1997-2000.