WRITTEN QUESTION E-3663/00

by Piia-Noora Kauppi (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 November 2000)

Subject: The EU's White Paper seminar in Paris from 5 to 7 October 2000

The Commission has drawn up a first white paper on youth policy. A hearing on the subject for young people in Europe was organised in Paris from 5 to 7 October 2000.

Responsibility for the event in Paris was shared between the Commission and France's Ministry of Youth and Sport. According to sources, the practical arrangements could be described as little short of chaotic. Hotel reservations went astray, and many delegations had to look for hotels for themselves late at night.

Although the official speeches constantly stressed taking account of the needs of special groups, no account whatsoever had been taken, for example, of the needs of the disabled or those with special dietary requirements.

The meeting rooms for the working groups were too small, and there were not even enough chairs for all the participants. The original intention was that the hosts should make the travelling arrangements, but those for the Finnish participants, for instance, ultimately had to be made at short notice by the Finnish organisation CIMO. As the Sunday flights were fully booked, the whole of the Finnish delegation had to leave in the middle of the working groups' reporting session on Saturday afternoon.

What will the Commission do to ensure that similar organisational problems do not arise during further white paper preparations?

Answer given by Ms Reding on behalf of the Commission

(8 February 2001)

The Commission and the French Presidency shared the work of organising the gathering held in Paris from 5 to 7 October 2000, which brought together 650 people from 31 countries.

As far as the logistics are concerned, the French Presidency was responsible for, among other things, accommodation, meals, local transport and the organisation of evening activities. The Commission provided interpreting services, chose the organisers of activities and, at the request of the Presidency shortly before the meeting, arranged the transport to Paris.

Certain delegations encountered difficulties with accommodation. It has to be said, in defence of the French Presidency, that the availability of accommodation of an acceptable standard and at an acceptable price was particularly limited during this period in Paris. The French Presidency also made considerable efforts to ensure that the problems encountered were sorted out as soon as possible.

As far as disabled people or persons with special dietary requirements are concerned, it did not always prove possible to give them all the attention that they deserved. The size of the event and its complexity can explain this situation but do not justify it.

The site chosen had to meet strict requirements: more than ten meeting rooms, an amphitheatre with a capacity of 650 people, location close to the accommodation, 40 interpreting booths to cover the 11 Community languages, a large area for meals, adequate security arrangements, and all at an acceptable cost to the Community budget.

The Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie was the only site that met these requirements in Paris. This site is recognised for its quality and for its ability to stage events, especially for young people.

The rooms for the workshops had been arranged depending on the choice of each young person and his language skills, following a survey conducted before the gathering. Certain last-minute changes in Paris, which were made at the request of the young people themselves, may have upset the arrangements or even led to a temporary lack of space.

As far as transport to Paris is concerned, the Commission asked the network of national agencies of the Youth programme to arrange this aspect of the gathering. In spite of the tight deadlines, they agreed to do so. This is true of the CIMO in Finland, in particular. The Commission is nevertheless aware of the problems that the late booking caused for the Finnish delegation.

Young people will also be involved in the other consultations that are currently in progress, and a number of them will be invited to a seminar in Umeå, where the results of the various consultations will be presented. The Commission, together with the Swedish Presidency, will make sure that the problems observed in Paris, which were largely the result of the innovative nature of the event, are rectified and do not recur at the Umeå seminar.