EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/915

(2004/C 78 E/0967)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0024/04

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(20 January 2004)

Subject: Financial support for an organisation facilitating the independence of people with disabilities

As 2003, the European Year of People with Disabilities draws to a close, can the Commission advise on possible sources of funding for a European umbrella group (the ENIL, European Network on Independent Living) representing and promoting the interests of people with disabilities or limited mobility?

In addition to conducting information campaigns and providing support systems for those affected, the organisation would address basic infrastructural requirements necessary for independent living. Equality and empowerment would be cornerstones of the movement with an emphasis on self-help through the operation of associated networks of people living independently. Expertise and resources pertaining to this area across the Community would thereby be maximised.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2004)

In respect of the Financial Regulation of the European Institutions (1), all Community funding must be allocated through fully open and transparent procedures.

For example, Articles 109 and 110 of the new Financial Regulation, clearly states that:

— the award of grants shall be subject to the principles of transparency and equal treatment. They may not be cumulative or awarded retrospectively and they must involve co-financing;

— grants shall be subject to an annual programme, to be published at the start of the year, with the exception of crisis management aid and humanitarian aid operations.

This work programme shall be implemented through the publication of calls for proposals save in duly substantiated exceptional cases of urgency or where the characteristics of the beneficiary leave no other choice for a given action;

— all grants awarded in the course of a financial year shall be published annually with due observance of the requirements of confidentiality and security;

Consequently, all calls for tenders and for proposals are published on the Internet in line with the new financial procedures and are accessible on the Europa web site and/or on thematic (i.e. Education and Culture, Employment and Social Affairs, Information Society) web sites from each Directorate-General.

These sites give full information on all the funding possibilities available through the various actions in favour of disabled persons financed under the different Community programs, actions or projects.

There is the possibility to consult on-line the web site of the Employment and Social Affairs Directorate-General, at the following address: (http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/employment_social/index_en.htm).

In the thematic section ‘calls for tender and proposals’ specific information, concerning the budgetary allocation under the framework of the anti-discrimination programme (call for projects for support to European level non-governmental organisations) and the new budget line recently adopted by the Parliament (Pilot projects on Mainstreaming of Disability Issues: follow up of the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003) can easily be found.

(1) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.