WRITTEN QUESTION P-1857/98

by Joaquim Miranda (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(8 June 1998)

Subject: Party-political event sponsored by the Union

A seminar on the theme of "The Treaty of Amsterdam and the European challenge - Creating a new kind of citizenship" was held in Portalegre, Portugal, on 16 May 1998. The advertisements for the seminar stated that it was sponsored by the Union in connection with the "Building Europe together" campaign.

1. The event had a markedly party-political bias, although there was no indication in the advertisements or direct admission that that was the case. The list of persons chairing the proceedings and speakers who had declared their intention to attend consisted entirely of prominent figures from one Portuguese political party.

2. The publicity literature for the seminar gave no information about the identity of the organizers (a fact which further confirms the truth of point 1). What is more:

(a) Although it was frequently named as one of the organizers, Portalegre Municipal Council maintains that it played no such role and any assertions to the contrary are apparently due to a misunderstanding;

(b) The questioner, who is also a member of the Municipal Council, was not only not involved in any decision concerning the seminar, but in fact learned of the event only by chance, through the advertisements.

3. In addition, the questioner was not informed by any other source that the seminar was to take place, even though he lives in Portalegre (and, moreover, is the only Member of the European Parliament who comes from and lives in the region in which Portalegre is situated) and events of this kind are considered to fall under the heading of cooperation between the EP and the Commission (the practical arrangements in this instance were handled by the Jacques Delors Information Centre, which received the necessary subsidy under the Prince programme).

4. Portalegre Municipal Council, by contrast, has decided to hold public debates spanning a wide cross-section of views on the subject of the seminar or other topical issues related to European integration.

5. Attendance at the seminar was very modest, amounting as it did to just a few dozen.

In the light of the foregoing, can the Commission say: How far events with a markedly party-political bias can be encompassed within the scope of the "Building Europe together" campaign and hence deemed worthy of political backing and material support? What specific support was granted for the seminar? Which body was actually responsible for organizing it? What criteria are observed when approving applications to carry out activities of the type concerned? Which does the Commission prefer, debates with contributions from many different sources or "part-songs for a single voice"?

Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission

(3 August 1998)

The priority information action "Building Europe together" seeks to stimulate public debate and information activities on the Amsterdam Treaty. Participation at different levels (citizens' local, regional, national and European representatives) is encouraged.

The seminar cited by the Honourable Member has not received funding through the action "Building Europe together" and it is not known to the Commission in Brussels or at its representation in Lisbon, nor to the Jaques Delors information centre in Lisbon.

The Commission has supported only one project taking place in Portalegre as part of the call for proposals No AP/97-01/TP. This project was introduced by Sitese (Sindicato de Tabalhadores de Esctritorio, Comercio, Serviços e Novas Technologias) in liaison with several local councils and other organizations. The Commission's contact in Sitese confirms that this project is not connected with the seminar in question.

The criteria for the selection of projects are clearly laid down in the text of the call for proposals of which a copy is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

The Commission is in favour of public debate, a form of exchange which is supported by the programme.