WRITTEN QUESTION P-2858/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 September 2000)

Subject: Funding of the Danish referendum campaign

The European Movement (Copenhagen Chapter) is reported to be acting as the lynch pin of the pro-euro campaign in the Danish referendum. The UK chapter is similarly reported to have acted as the channel for funds for the lobby group Britain in Europe.

Its Brussels head office receives 300 000 per year from Item A-3021 which is intended to support named organisations advancing the idea of Europe.

Many other organisations also receive funding to support their networking in the cause of an ever-closer union. The A-30 chapter alone, which accounts for just a tiny percentage of funds available to this cause, requires its agencies and agents to be active in the encouragement of partnerships with organisations in the public and private sector, the development of networks throughout Europe, and the promotion of European Integration (budget, p. 416).

This is tantamount to the promotion of fund-raising for campaigns to endorse closer EU integration, a partisan approach to European politics.

In the light of this, and in the interests of transparency and increasing public confidence in the Commission, can the Commission indicate which bodies and individuals which have publicly declared for the Yes campaign in the Danish referendum are recipients of EU funding, directly, or indirectly through affiliates or subsidiaries?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2000)

Neither the Commission nor its representation in Denmark planned or carried out any campaign activities or financially supported campaign activities carried out by external organisations or individuals in connection with the Danish euro referendum held on 28 September 2000. As a matter of fact no credits were allocated to the representation in the current financial year for euro referendum campaign activities.

The only organisation that received funds was the Syddansk Universitet which was granted a contribution from research funds for a hearing directly linked to the referendum. The event was completely neutral and both the YES and NO sides (political parties, organisations and movements) participated.

In 1998, following the publication in the Official journal of a call for proposals, within the framework of the Building Europe Together programme and open to all non-profit making organisations in all Member States, two Danish movements Nyt Europa and Europoeisk Ungdom, supporting a YES vote, were granted financial contributions of 40 000 and 20 441 respectively and one Danish movement Juni Bevoegelsen, supporting a NO vote, was granted a financial contribution of 20 000 for information and communication actions on the Amsterdam Treaty principally debates, seminars and Community info kits.

In addition Nyt Europa were granted a further 20 138 for the organisation of a conference and documentation within the framework of a series of 33 Regional events on the Amsterdam Treaty carried out through the representations in the Member States. In 1999 a modest grant of 2 466 was accorded to the Danish section of the European Movement for a seminar on Democracy in the EU.