WRITTEN QUESTION P-3720/98

by Marie-Thérèse Hermange (UPE) to the Commission

(24 November 1998)

Subject: Protection of childhood and the family

Item B3-4108 concerning measures in favour of the family and children has been activated by the interinstitutional agreement but only at a cost of being watered down to some extent.

1. Does the Commission acknowledge that protection of childhood and the family constitutes a European political priority, one that has been reaffirmed on numerous occasions by the European Parliament?

2. Can the Commission confirm or deny that DG V showed little enthusiasm for arguing the case for this item at the interinstitutional negotiations?

3. Can the Commission confirm that most of the appropriations entered against this item will henceforth be devoted to demographic studies? Can it provide detailed information about the measures which were financed from the 1998 budget and those which might be financed from the 1999 budget?

4. Can the Commission indicate how it intends to continue to provide long-term financial support for the European Monitoring Centre on National Family Policies and the NGOs working to promote and protect the family, who are the Commission's interlocutors?

5. Given this situation, does not the Commission deem it a matter of urgent necessity to resuscitate the interservice group on matters relating to children?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission

(11 January 1999)

Family policy is the responsibility of the individual Member States. Pursuant to the conclusions of the Council for Employment and Social Affairs of 29 September 1989, the Commission is promoting the exchange of information and good practices on subjects of common interest in the area of family and demographic policy.

Moreover, contributing to the reconciliation of professional and family responsibilities is one of the objectives of the fourth medium-term Community action programme concerning equal opportunities for men and women (1996-2000), and it also represents an essential component of the fourth pillar of the employment guidelines (reinforcing equal opportunities between men and women).

In June 1998, following the judgement of the Court of Justice in case C-106/96, the Commission decided, in accordance with its role as Guardian of the Treaties, to suspend the execution of the budget headings without a legal basis and to carry out a thorough examination of the conditions for their possible implementation. Heading B3-4108"measures to support the family and children" was examined on the same grounds as others. Following this examination and in accordance with the inter-institutional agreement, it was decided that only those activities linked to demography, as provided for in Article 7 of the Agreement on Social Policy, could be funded.

In 1998, approximately [fmxeuro] 1,9 million were committed for heading B3-4108. This total includes the costs of the European Observatory for national family policy, subsidies for projects submitted before June 1998 and campaigns linked to demography. Furthermore, [fmxeuro] 800 000 were transferred to heading B3-4109 to increase funding for projects tackling the issue of violence against children.

A one-year service contract was concluded in 1998 with the Austrian Family Institute (ÖIF), which co-ordinates of the European Observatory for national family policy. The contract can be renewed five times, if the budget permits and on condition that its performance justifies renewal.

Budget heading B3-4108 does not allow us to fund the ongoing operations of non-governmental family organisations. However, such organisations can apply, like other NGOs, for Community funding for specific projects which meet the eligibility and priority criteria for the implementation of the various budget headings.