WRITTEN QUESTION P-2669/00

by Carlos Coelho (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(25 July 2000)

Subject: Delays in the provision of funding for Alzheimer's disease pilot projects

In 1999 an amendment to the Budget was approved which involved the allocation of 2,5 million to the heading entitled Pilot projects to improve the quality of life of persons suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and related conditions, and those assisting them in a non-professional capacity.

However, the Commission has not so far published any kind of notice inviting applications for such funding and (according to information received from the Alzheimer Europe organisation) it apparently intends to transfer the amount which was earmarked for Alzheimer's disease pilot projects to the general budget for health-promotion initiatives. This would seriously jeopardise the survival of a number of European organisations which act on behalf of the 4,8 million people in the European Union who suffer from Alzheimer's disease.

Will the Commission answer the following questions:

1. What is the reason for this delay in the allocation of resources? Is it because a decision has really been taken to transfer those resources to the budget heading concerned with general health-promotion initiatives?

2. Will the Commission provide a report on the programmes of Alzheimer Europe and other similar associations for which funding has been approved but not yet made available?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(10 October 2000)

The Honourable Member is invited to refer to the Commission's answer to written question E-2402/00 by Mr Staes concerning the use of the 2,5 million foreseen in the budget.

1. Budget line B3-4307, which was voted in August 1999, after the inter-institutional agreement of 6 May 1999, is in breach of the provisions of that agreement and in particular Article 37. Indeed, the Commission has set out the reasons underlying the Commission's refusal to implement this budget line (letter of 11 July 2000 from the Commissioner in charge of the budget to Mr Wynn, Chairman of the Parliament's committee on budgets). In this light, the Commission cannot commit this budget line and will not seek to recycle the funds allocated.

In addition from the Commission's perspective, it has been clarified that it does not possess within the Directorate general for Health and consumer protection the administrative resources to manage this budget-line. In keeping with this Commission's commitments to matching human resources, sound financial management and policy priorities and in the light of severe understaffing in this service, the Commission will propose increased human resources in follow-up to the Peer review process. The Commission hopes that the Honourable Member and his fellow Members of Parliament will support the staffing requirements of the Directorate general for Health and consumer protection set out in the context of this process.

It might be possible for actions in relation to particular health interventions, such as on Alzheimer's disease, drawing from the experience accumulated so far, to be undertaken under the new public health strategy after its adoption by the Parliament and the Council. With regard to research aspects linked to Alzheimers disease, funding opportunities also exist under the Directorate general Research and the 5th framework programme for research.

Clearly, working together to tackle Alzheimer's disease and related conditions is an important element in our joint attempts to prepare and implement a new public health strategy and the Commission would encourage those dedicated representatives of organisations dealing with neurodegenerative diseases to work closely with its services.

2. 56 Alzheimer-related projects were submitted in 1996, 1997 and 1998 by Alzheimer Europe and similar associations and selected for funding. The budgetary commitments and initial payments have been made for all. Moreover, the final payments have been made for almost 80 % of these projects. For the remaining projects, either the final reports and financial statements have not yet been received, or processing is under way, or supplementary information has been requested from the contractors.