WRITTEN QUESTION E-2074/00

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 June 2000)

Subject: Core funding for NGOs working in the field of discrimination on grounds of religion and belief

Would the Commission outline exactly how much core funding was allocated to non-governmental organisations working in the field of discrimination on grounds of religion and belief, exactly which organisations received such core funding, and under which precise budget lines, for the year 1999? And for 1998? And for 1997?

Would the Commission explain which organisations are due to receive funding under current plans for 2000 and 2001, and under which budget lines?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-2072/00, E-2073/00, E-2074/00 and E-2075/00 given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 September 2000)

In 1997 214 638 was granted from budget line B3-4114 for measures preparatory to the creation of a European network of organisations active in the fight against racism. In 1998 602 866 was granted from budget line B3-4114 to support the first year of operation of the European network against racism, covering the period 1 December 1998 to 31 December 1999. No funds were committed from the 1999 budget for the running costs of non-governmental organisations working in the field of discrimination on grounds of racial and ethnic origin as the commentary to the relevant budget line did not permit the funding of running costs and as the Commission was able to cover the costs of the European network against racism in 1999 from the 1998 budget. In 2000, a running cost subsidy has been awarded to the European network against racism on the basis of the budget commentary to line B5-803. A total subsidy of 1 320 432 has been awarded to cover the period from 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2001.

No subsidies were committed from the Community budget in 1997, 1998 or 1999 for the running costs of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the field of discrimination on grounds of age, of religion and belief, or of sexual orientation. However in 2000 the Commission has organised a call for proposals for the provision of support for the co-ordination activities of organisations operating at European level and active in fighting discrimination. As a result of this call, the Commission is concluding subsidy agreements with a range of organisations, some of which may be active in the fight against racial discrimination, on grounds of age, religion, belief or sexual orientation. Information on which organisations have received support will be published on the web-pages of the Commission:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/soc-prot/disable/index_en.htm.

In 2001, core funding for relevant European-level NGOs with experience of fighting discrimination will fall under the action programme on combating discrimination which is currently before the Council and the Parliament. Based on Article 13 of the EC Treaty, the programme will deal with discrimination based on racial and ethnic origin, religion and belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. The Commission has proposed that the criteria for the selection of European-level NGOs for this purpose should be established in conjunction with the programme committee. A call for proposals will then be organised on the basis of those criteria. It is therefore not possible at this stage to say which organisations will receive funding.