WRITTEN QUESTION P-2523/98

by Doeke Eisma (ELDR) to the Commission

(28 July 1998)

Subject: Granting of subsidies to animal welfare organization

Can the Commission indicate which animal welfare organizations have submitted applications for a subsidy from Article B4-306 (Awareness and subsidies)?

Can it also indicate whether those applications have been approved and, if not, which ones have not been approved and why not?

Can it further indicate the amount devoted to animal welfare from Article B4-306?

Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission

(21 September 1998)

Each year, the Commission uses budget Heading B4-3060 to provide financial support to European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) active in the defence of the environment (point 1) and to information and awareness projects (point 2). Animal protection does not figure among the objectives and priorities of these two programmes. However, the Commission does fund certain bodies which, by protecting natural environments, help protect wild animals.

Regarding the call for the submission of proposals under a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organisations primarily active in the field of environmental protection(1), in accordance with Council Decision No 97/872/EC of 16 December 1997(2), the Commission received 62 proposals in 1998. It selected 18 of them, including five which help protect animals: Seas at Risk (Netherlands), Birdlife International (United Kingdom), Eurosite (France), European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism (United Kingdom) and International Friends of Nature (Austria). Proposals were not selected which failed to meet the following criteria: cost-effectiveness; a sustainable multiplier effect at European level; effective and balanced cooperation between the partners in terms of planning and carrying out activities and financial contributions; contribution to a multinational approach and, in particular, to transboundary cooperation within the Community and, where appropriate, with neighbouring countries outside the Community; ability to foster dialogue and cooperation between the partners identified in the fifth action programme; degree of representativeness within the particular association movement; ability to foster a multisectoral approach to the environment; quality of cooperation and dialogue between the association and its members via regular exchange of information; ability to demonstrate the financial feasibility of the annual programme of activities by means of a realistic, reasonable and balanced budget; an undertaking to broadcast as widely as possible the Community's current environment policy, especially the Community programme of policy and action on the environment and sustainable development.

Regarding the call for submission of proposals for general measures to inform and increase awareness of environmental problems(3), in 1997 the Commission selected 59 proposals, including three concerning public information and awareness-raising on animal protection. The beneficiaries are: Wildlife Europe Sveriges Television AB (Sweden), Morgane Production (France) and the Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles (Belgium). The 1998 selection of projects is under way.

The amount of appropriations awarded to animal protection and nature in 1997 for awareness projects, and in 1998 for NGOs, is ECU 628 000.

(1) OJ C 25, 24.1.1998.

(2) OJ L 354, 30.12.1997.

(3) OJ C 53, 22.2.1997.