Proposta di DECISIONE DEL PARLAMENTO EUROPEO E DEL CONSIGLIO che modifica la decisione 2001/51/CE del Consiglio relativa al programma concernente la strategia comunitaria in materia di parità tra donne e uomini e la decisione n. 848/2004/CE del Parlamento europeo e del Consiglio che istituisce un programma d'azione comunitario per la promozione delle organizzazioni attive a livello europeo nel settore della parità tra donne e uomini

(presentata dalla Commissione)

RELAZIONE

L'impegno dell'UE a favore della parità tra donne e uomini risale al 1957 ed è sancito dal trattato costitutivo, da una serie di direttive, nonché da un'ampia giurisprudenza. L'articolo 2 del trattato riconosce la parità tra donne e uomini come uno degli obiettivi fondamentali della Comunità. A norma dell'articolo 3, paragrafo 2, l'azione della Comunità mira ad eliminare le ineguaglianze, nonché a promuovere la parità di genere. L'articolo 13 autorizza la Comunità a prendere provvedimenti per combattere le discriminazioni fondate su una serie di motivi, tra cui il sesso. Il quadro giuridico comunitario assicura la parità delle donne e degli uomini di fronte alla legge; a livello europeo e nazionale è stata intrapresa un'ampia gamma di azioni al riguardo. La parità di genere nell'UE è tuttavia insidiata dal fatto che le donne e gli uomini non godono ancora di pari diritti; la sottorappresentazione delle donne e la violenza di cui sono oggetto dimostrano il persistere di disuguaglianze strutturali tra i generi. Per rendere la parità di genere effettiva in tutte le sfere della vita, occorre pertanto un sostengo costante.

Il programma relativo alla strategia comunitaria in tema di parità tra donne e uomini (2001-2005) [1], che è il quinto programma d'azione in questo settore, è stato adottato dal Consiglio il 20 dicembre 2000 per il periodo compreso tra il 1° gennaio 2001 e il 31 dicembre 2006 ed è dotato di un bilancio di 50 milioni di euro. Il programma sostiene la strategia comunitaria in tema di parità (2001-2005), un nuovo approccio esteso a tutte le politiche comunitarie, al fine di promuovere la parità tra donne e uomini sviluppando le necessarie attività orizzontali e migliorando il coordinamento delle azioni connesse alla dimensione di genere nei diversi settori politici.

[1] GU L 17 del 19.1.2001, pag. 22.

Il programma è caratterizzato dai seguenti obiettivi e da corrispondenti linee d'intervento:

(a) promuovere e diffondere i valori e le pratiche sui quali si basa la parità tra le donne e gli uomini. Questa linea d'intervento riguarda attività di sensibilizzazione intese a potenziare la dimensione comunitaria della promozione della parità di genere e può comprendere conferenze, seminari, campagne transnazionali, eventi di ampia portata a livello europeo, pubblicazioni e siti Internet;

(b) migliorare la comprensione delle questioni connesse alla parità tra gli uomini e le donne, compresa la discriminazione diretta e indiretta basata sul sesso e la discriminazione multipla nei confronti delle donne, mediante un esame dell'efficacia delle politiche e delle pratiche, effettuandone un'analisi preliminare, seguendone l'attuazione e valutandone l'impatto. Questa linea d'intervento comprende, per esempio, l'assistenza nell'elaborazione di statistiche ed indicatori comparabili, l'analisi a livello comunitario della dimensione di genere nelle politiche e nei provvedimenti, il monitoraggio dell'attuazione della normativa comunitaria sulla parità, studi, nonché la pubblicazione di una relazione annuale sulla parità tra donne e uomini;

(c) sviluppare la capacità dei soggetti principali (ONG, parti sociali a livello europeo, reti transnazionali di autorità regionali o locali) di promuovere efficacemente la parità tra le donne e gli uomini, in particolare attraverso il sostegno allo scambio di informazioni e pratiche ottimali e al lavoro in rete a livello comunitario.

Le possibili azioni corrispondenti a ciascuna linea d'intervento sono indicate nell'allegato della decisione del Consiglio che istituisce il programma. Per ottenere un valore aggiunto comunitario, tali azioni andrebbero realizzate in un contesto transnazionale. Il comitato del programma ha definito i seguenti temi prioritari annuali per gli inviti a presentare proposte: parità delle retribuzioni nel 2001, conciliazione della vita professionale e familiare nel 2002, le donne nel processo decisionale nel 2003, nonché ruoli e stereotipi legati al genere nel 2004.

Tale programma contribuisce all'integrazione della dimensione di genere in tutte le politiche, sfruttandone il potenziale per promuovere la parità tra donne e uomini ed accrescere la sensibilizzazione al riguardo. Vengono inoltre rafforzati la cooperazione e i partenariati tra i soggetti impegnati nella promozione della parità di genere, quali autorità nazionali, organismi per le pari opportunità, parti sociali e ONG. Con il sussidio di esperti esterni è stata effettuata una valutazione intermedia al fine di fornire alla Commissione informazioni sul modo per potenziare e migliorare ulteriormente il sistema di sostegno comunitario alla promozione della parità tra uomini e donne.

Un altro programma d'azione comunitario, inteso a promuovere le organizzazioni attive a livello europeo nel settore della parità tra donne e uomini, è stato recentemente istituito dal Parlamento europeo e dal Consiglio il 29 aprile 2004 [2] e sarà operativo dal 1° gennaio 2004 al 31 dicembre 2005, con un bilancio di 2,2 milioni di euro. Questa decisione conferisce il valore di un atto di base alla pratica ormai consolidata di sostenere organizzazioni attive nella promozione della parità tra donne e uomini.

[2] GU L 157 del 30.4.2004, pag. 18.

I due programmi scadono contemporaneamente in un periodo di importanti mutamenti per la costruzione e il funzionamento dell'Unione europea allargata che richiedono una profonda riflessione sul futuro approccio da adottare nell'attuazione dell'agenda per la politica sociale, specialmente per quanto concerne la struttura dei programmi d'azione comunitari relativi al settore sociale e dell'occupazione. Attualmente esistono cinque programmi che sono attuati in modo analogo e promuovono tipi di provvedimenti comparabili. Oltre ai due programmi sulla parità tra donne e uomini, si tratta di due programmi d'azione incentrati sulla promozione del metodo di coordinamento aperto nel settore dell'occupazione (misure d'incentivazione dell'occupazione) e dell'integrazione sociale (programma d'azione sull'integrazione sociale), nonché di un programma riguardante la lotta contro la discriminazione. Ad eccezione dei programmi sulla parità di genere tutti gli altri programmi scadono alla fine del 2006.

La proposta di decisione del Parlamento europeo e del Consiglio relativa a un programma quadro per il finanziamento di azioni nel settore sociale e dell'occupazione riguarderà lo stesso periodo delle nuove prospettive finanziarie, compreso tra il 2007 e il 2013 [3]. La Commissione ha attentamente studiato la futura attuazione dell'agenda per la politica sociale, compresi gli obiettivi e il funzionamento dei programmi d'azione comunitari e le relative interconnessioni. La nuova proposta relativa al periodo 2007-2013 è intesa a semplificare la struttura del bilancio unificando gli attuali programmi d'azione comunitari in un ampio programma quadro che consentirà lo stesso tipo di azioni cofinanziate, ossia analisi, studi, promozione di meccanismi di scambio europei, misure di sensibilizzazione e di sostegno alle organizzazioni della società civile. La linea d'intervento relativa alla parità tra donne e uomini, che rientra nel programma quadro proposto per il periodo 2007-2013, si baserà sull'esperienza precedente e porterà avanti il sostegno finanziario all'elaborazione e all'attuazione della normativa comunitaria in tema di parità di genere, nonché l'integrazione orizzontale della dimensione di genere nelle politiche dell'UE. In questo contesto saranno inoltre sostenute le reti europee di coordinamento attive nel settore della parità tra donne e uomini.

[3] COM (2004) 488 def.

Nel periodo transitorio precedente l'adozione di un nuovo programma quadro conforme agli orientamenti di cui sopra è indispensabile garantire la continuità del sostegno comunitario alla promozione della parità tra donne e uomini, al fine di evitare qualsiasi alterazione dell'attuale meccanismo a favore degli obiettivi stabiliti dall'articolo 13 del trattato CE. I principi e gli obiettivi, nonché i settori d'intervento della strategia comunitaria in tema di parità tra donne e uomini, corrispondenti a quelli stabiliti dalla decisione 2001/51/CE e dal relativo allegato, rimangono interamente validi nell'anno di transizione.

Considerate queste circostanze la Commissione europea propone il prolungamento al 2006, senza variazioni, dei due programmi relativi alla parità tra donne e uomini.

La Commissione propone quindi:

- di prolungare sino alla fine del 2006 sia il programma concernente la strategia comunitaria in tema di parità tra donne e uomini (2001-2005) sia il programma d'azione comunitario per la promozione delle organizzazioni attive a livello europeo nel settore della parità tra donne e uomini;

- di portare il bilancio globale del programma concernente la strategia comunitaria in tema di parità tra donne e uomini (2001-2005) a 61,5 milioni di euro e

- di portare il bilancio globale del programma d'azione comunitario per la promozione delle organizzazioni attive a livello europeo nel settore della parità tra donne e uomini a 3,3 milioni di euro.

-

2004/0194 (COD)

Proposta di DECISIONE DEL PARLAMENTO EUROPEO E DEL CONSIGLIO che modifica la decisione 2001/51/CE del Consiglio relativa al programma concernente la strategia comunitaria in materia di parità tra donne e uomini e la decisione n. 848/2004/CE del Parlamento europeo e del Consiglio che istituisce un programma d'azione comunitario per la promozione delle organizzazioni attive a livello europeo nel settore della parità tra donne e uomini

IL PARLAMENTO EUROPEO E IL CONSIGLIO DELL'UNIONE EUROPEA,

visto il trattato che istituisce la Comunità europea, in particolare l'articolo 13, paragrafo 2,

vista la proposta della Commissione [4],

[4] GU C [...] del [...], pag. [...].

visto il parere del Comitato economico e sociale europeo [5],

[5] GU C [...] del [...], pag. [...].

visto il parere del Comitato delle regioni [6],

[6] GU C [...] del [...], pag. [...].

deliberando secondo la procedura di cui all'articolo 251 del trattato [7],

[7] GU C [...] del [...], pag. [...].

considerando quanto segue:

(1) La decisione 2001/51/CE del Consiglio ha istituito il programma concernente la strategia comunitaria in materia di parità tra donne e uomini al fine di migliorare la comprensione delle questioni connesse alla parità di genere, promuovere e diffondere i valori e le pratiche sui quali si basa la parità tra le donne e gli uomini e sviluppare la capacità dei soggetti di promuovere efficacemente la parità di genere.

(2) Mediante la decisione n. 848/2004/CE il Parlamento europeo e il Consiglio hanno istituito il programma d'azione comunitario per la promozione delle organizzazioni attive a livello europeo nel settore della parità tra donne e uomini, al fine di sostenere le attività di tali organizzazioni, che, nell'ambito del loro programma di lavoro permanente o di iniziative specifiche, perseguono un obiettivo d'interesse generale europeo nel settore della parità tra donne e uomini o un obiettivo che si inserisce nel quadro della politica dell'Unione europea in questo settore.

(3) Entrambi i programmi scadono il 31 dicembre 2005. E' essenziale garantire la continuità della politica comunitaria a favore della promozione della parità tra donne e uomini conformemente agli obiettivi sanciti dall'articolo 13 del trattato.

(4) E' opportuno prolungare i programmi per un periodo transitorio di un anno, sino all'adozione di un nuovo programma quadro pluriennale per il finanziamento di azioni nel settore sociale e dell'occupazione nel periodo 2007-2013, che comporti una linea d'intervento relativa alla parità tra donne e uomini.

(5) La decisione 2001/51/CE del Consiglio relativa al programma concernente la strategia comunitaria in materia di parità tra donne e uomini si fonda sull'articolo 13 del trattato. In seguito alle modifiche introdotte dal trattato di Nizza l'articolo 13, paragrafo 2, costituisce la base giuridica specifica per l'adozione di misure d'incentivazione intese a contribuire alla lotta contro la discriminazione. Occorre pertanto basare la modifica alla decisione 2001/51/CE sull'articolo 13, paragrafo 2.

HANNO ADOTTATO LA PRESENTE DECISIONE:

Articolo 1

La decisione 2001/51/CE è modificata nel modo seguente:

1. all'articolo 1, la data del 31 dicembre 2005 è sostituita dalla data del 31 dicembre 2006;

2. all'articolo 11, paragrafo 1, l'importo finanziario di riferimento di 50 milioni di euro è sostituito dall'importo di 61,5 milioni di euro.

Articolo 2

La decisione 848/2004/CE è modificata nel modo seguente:

1. all'articolo 1, paragrafo 3, la data del 31 dicembre 2005 è sostituita dalla data del 31 dicembre 2006;

2. all'articolo 6, paragrafo 1, la dotazione finanziaria di 2,2 milioni di euro è sostituita dall'importo di 3,3 milioni di euro.

Articolo 3

La presente decisione entra in vigore il giorno della sua pubblicazione nella Gazzetta Ufficiale dell'Unione europea.

Articolo 4

Gli Stati membri sono destinatari della presente decisione.

Fatto a Bruxelles, il [...]

Per il Parlamento europeo Per il Consiglio

Il Presidente Il Presidente

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): Employment and Social Affairs - Equality for men and women

Activit(y/ies): Support for the promotion of gender equality

Title of action:

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Council Decision 2001/51/EC establishing a Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality and Decision No 848/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women

Amendment to Council Decision 2001/51/EC

1. BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

Articles 04.0502 and 04.010405

2. OVERALL FIGURES

2.1. Total allocation for action (Part B): EUR million for commitment

EUR 11.5 million for commitment

This amount represents the budgetary impact of the proposal to extend the programme, which is due to end on 31 December 2005, for the additional year concerned, 2006. It is roughly equivalent to the budget for the year 2005.

2.2. Period of application:

1 January 2006-31 December 2006

2.3. Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

(a) Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention) (see point 6.1.1)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

(b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure(see point 6.1.2)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

(c) Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure

(see points 7.2 and 7.3)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

2.4. Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective:

X Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the financial perspective.

Proposal may require application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.

2.5. Financial impact on revenue: [8]

[8] For further information, see separate explanatory note.

X Proposal has no financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure)

OR

Proposal has financial impact - the effect on revenue is as follows:

(NB All details and observations relating to the method of calculating the effect on revenue should be shown in a separate annex.)

(EUR million to one decimal place)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

(Please specify each budget line involved, adding the appropriate number of rows to the table if there is an effect on more than one budget line.)

3. BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

4. LEGAL BASIS

Article 13 (2) EC Treaty

5. DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

5.1. Need for Community intervention

5.1.1. Objectives pursued

The objective of the prolongation is to ensure the continuation of the Community Action Programme on gender equality during the year 2006. The present programme will expire on 31 December 2005. The prolongation is deemed necessary to guarantee continuity of Community action in a transitional period characterised by important institutional changes until the adoption of a new comprehensive multiannual Framework Programme on the financing of actions in the employment and social field, including gender equality.

The objective of the Decision remains unchanged: to support and supplement efforts to promote gender equality including complementing legislative developments by:

- promoting and disseminating the values and practices underlying gender equality;

- improving the understanding of issues related to direct and indirect gender discrimination based on sex through improved knowledge and measurement and through the evaluation of the effectiveness of policies and practices; and

- developing the capacity of target players to promote gender equality.

5.1.2. Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

This programme is the prolongation of the 5th Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005). An external ongoing evaluation started at the beginning of 2003 and will end in December 2006. The executive summary of the interim evaluation will be available on .

The Commission has drawn up an interim evaluation report based on the external evaluation available that will be made public soon. As explained in the interim evaluation report, the Action Programme has been designed to support the implementation of the Framework Strategy on gender equality with three main objectives, raising awareness, improving analysis and evaluation and developing capacity of players to promote gender equality. Results from the first three years show that the funded activities meet the objectives. Furthermore activities designed to raise awareness will in the process build up capacity - and vice versa - and both kinds of action either rely on or can be expected to promote policy analysis. This makes the classification of the eligible activities into the three strands somewhat artificial, as noted by the external evaluators.

The programme has an important role to play in supporting policy cooperation at European level. The broad formulation of the main objectives of each strand allows the funding of a wide range of projects with different durations, types of users and objectives to respond to the variety of objectives defined in the Framework Strategy on gender equality. Valuable direct contributions have been made by activities funded under strand 2 (such as expert networks and statistical work) and strand 1 (such as the Council Presidency and the Commission's conferences). The transnational projects run by national authorities have contributed to reinforcing synergy between national policies on gender equality.

On the other hand, the contribution of transnational projects subsidised under strand 3 is less apparent. Many projects deal with the development of methods and tools for which it is still too early to assess their impact. This will require further investigation in the course of the external evaluation.

5.1.3. Measures taken following evaluation

In the light of the preliminary findings of the interim evaluation, the Commission intends to develop more systematic information on the outputs of the Programme and its various activities. It is important to improve the synergy between the three strands by encouraging the flow of information and knowledge between the various activities.

For this purpose a regularly updated Commission website should be the major source of information and this message should be clearly passed to all project promoters. The comparable statistics developed by EUROSTAT in cooperation with the Member States, the studies conducted by the expert networks, the Commission's assessment of National Action Plans for Employment and social inclusion are all accessible from the Commission website. European conferences are also an opportunity to make the Programme's outputs better known.

Finally, it should be borne in mind that the fundamental raison d'être of such a Programme is its European added value. The Programme has to contribute to the development and the implementation of EU law concerning gender equality and to the promotion of the gender dimension in EU policies. This should be further analysed in the course of the external evaluation. In the context of the enlarged European Union, the Commission will pay attention to keeping all activities funded by the Programme in line with this fundamental requirement.

5.2. Action envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

In the context of the Amsterdam Treaty, gender mainstreaming has been firmly anchored in Article 3. In parallel to gender mainstreaming, specific actions in favour of women have proved to be essential in order to eliminate persistent inequalities.

Three sub-objectives have been identified to which correspond three major strands for actions under this Programme which run concurrently:

- promoting and disseminating values and practices underlying gender equality;

- improving the understanding of issues related to direct and indirect discrimination based on sex through improved knowledge and measurement and through the evaluation of the effectiveness of policies and practices;

- developing the capacity of target players to promote gender equality.

The Programme will work with a variety of target players selected from among policymakers in national, regional and local administrations, independent bodies responsible for the promotion of gender equality, non-governmental organisations, social partners, research institutes, the media, opinion-formers, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.

The lessons of past programmes suggest that maximum added-value is obtained when programmes concentrate on a limited number of high-quality, large-scale coordinated activities where the emphasis is on supporting Member States' efforts to promote change at national, regional and local levels. This involves Member States' governments, local and regional authorities, social partners, grass-root NGOs, independent experts and academics.

The three strands will continue to operate as in the first five years as follows:

* Awareness-raising (Strand 1)

This strand aims at disseminating the lessons of the Programme and adding to the momentum needed for the acceptance of change in society. It will contribute to creating the political conditions necessary for legislative or other developments.

With the aim of supporting and improving the synergy between national policies on gender equality and also to develop a Community added value, this strand will support the implementation of initiatives, to be developed by the Member States authorities, on particular topics approved annually, after discussion with the Programme Committee.

It includes classical information and communication tools and targeted visibility/awareness-raising events or campaigns.

* Analysis and evaluation (Strand 2)

This strand aims at developing and improving various tools for collecting information, putting it into a useable and comparable form and ensuring its dissemination to the target players in the Member States. This will build on work carried out during the previous equality programmes.

The Programme should assist players in the different Member States to learn from the experience of others, with the objective of improving the effectiveness of their efforts to promote gender equality. Information about what is happening in the Member States needs therefore to be made available in a form which is readily accessible and which will be used by the players.

* Capacity building (Strand 3)

This strand aims at adding value to the capacity of players to address gender equality effectively. This is achieved by disseminating to these players good practices and lessons from experience and involving them in a process of transnational exchange and dialogue at EU level.

Past experience related to the grounds for combating gender discrimination has underlined the importance of working in partnership with target players in the Member States and with organisations working in the field of gender equality. Previous Community action in the field of equal opportunities between women and men and initiatives in the fields of disability and social inclusion have shown the value of bringing players together in transnational partnerships which can form the basis for the exchange of good practice.

5.3. Methods of implementation

The delivery mechanisms stipulated in the proposal are in keeping with to the classic Community approach to grants and co-funding on the basis of a detailed financial request. The actions to be taken may be funded by service contracts following open calls for tender or restricted calls for proposals addressed to the Member States or by subsidies for joint financing with other sources. In the latter case, the level of financial assistance from the Commission may not exceed, as a general rule, 80% of the expenditure actually incurred by the recipient. The Programme is managed centrally by the Commission.

The programme budget may also cover expenditure associated with preparation, follow-up, monitoring, auditing and evaluation activities directly necessary for the management of the programme and for the realisation of its objectives, such as studies, meetings, information and publication activities, expenditure associated with IT networks for the exchange of information and any other administrative and technical support expenditure on which the Commission may decide for the management of the programme.

6. FINANCIAL IMPACT

6.1. Total financial impact on Part B (over the entire programming period)

(The method of calculating the total amounts set out in the table below must be explained by the breakdown in Table 6.2. )

6.1.1. Financial intervention

Commitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

6.1.2. Technical and administrative assistance, support expenditure and IT expenditure (commitment appropriations)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

6.2. Calculation of costs by measure envisaged in Part B (over the entire programming period) [9]

[9] For further information, see separate explanatory note.

(Where there is more than one action, give sufficient detail of the specific measures to be taken for each one to allow the volume and costs of the outputs to be estimated.)

Commitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

If necessary explain the method of calculation

7. IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

7.1. Impact on human resources

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

7.2. Overall financial impact of human resources

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

7.3. Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

I. Annual total (7.2 + 7.3) // EUR 1.636.240

II. Duration of action // 1 year

III. Total cost of action (I x II) // EUR 1.636.240

The needs for human and administrative resources shall be covered within the allocation granted to the managing Directorate General in the framework of the annual allocation procedure.

8. FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

8.1. Follow-up arrangements

The prolongation will continue to be implemented along the same lines as the Programme in its first five years. Implementation will involve participation in selection panels of calls for proposals, monitoring of ongoing contracts and financial control of all transactions between the Commission and the beneficiaries.

8.2. Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

The Programme will be monitored throughout its operation. The Programme Committee will receive regular information prepared by the Commission. The monitoring will be adapted according to the needs of each of the strands and will include aspects of both quality assurance and financial regularity.

In addition, the Programme is subject to an interim report on its implementation which is currently in the process of adoption / has been adopted by the Commission on ... [10]. The ongoing evaluation will continue to provide the Commission with regular evaluation findings until the final report on the implementation of the Framework Strategy and this Programme which will be drawn up by 31 December 2006. The Commission was and will be assisted by external evaluators for both reports.

[10] SEC (2004) ... (to be inserted)..

9. ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

All the measures funded are subject to ex ante, in itinere and ex post analysis by the responsible departments as regards content quality and cost-effectiveness. The grant application forms will require information on the identity and nature of potential beneficiaries so that their reliability can be assessed in advance. Fraud prevention measures (checks, reports) are included in the agreements or contracts between the Commission and beneficiaries. The Commission will check reports and ensure that work has been properly carried out before intermediate and/or final payments are made. Special attention will be made in order to avoid double funding. In addition, controls by the Commission or the Court of Auditors of the European Communities may be carried out on the basis of documents or on the spot.

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): Employment and Social Affairs - Equality for men and women

Activit(y/ies): Support for the promotion of gender equality

Title of action:

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Council Decision 2001/51/EC establishing a Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality and Decision No 848/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women

Amendment to Council Decision No 848/2004/EC

1. BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

A-3037 (No ABB 040503) and A-3046 (No ABB 040501)

2. OVERALL FIGURES

2.1. Total allocation for action (Part B): EUR million for commitment:

1.1 EUR million for commitment

This amount represents the budgetary impact of the proposal to extend the programme, which is due to end on 31 December 2005, for the additional year concerned, 2006. It is roughly equivalent to the budgets for the years 2004 and 2005.

2.2. Period of application:

1 January 2006-31 December 2006

2.3. Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

(a) Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention) (see point 6.1.1)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

(b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure(see point 6.1.2)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

(c) Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure

(see points 7.2 and 7.3)

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

>SPAZIO PER TABELLA>

2.4. Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective

X Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the financial perspective.

Proposal may require application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.

2.5. Financial impact on revenue: [11]

[11] For further information, see separate explanatory note.

X Proposal has no financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure)

OR

Proposal has financial impact - the effect on revenue is as follows:

(NB All details and observations relating to the method of calculating the effect on revenue should be shown in a separate annex.)

(EUR million to one decimal place)

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(Please specify each budget line involved, adding the appropriate number of rows to the table if there is an effect on more than one budget line.)

3. BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

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4. LEGAL BASIS

Article 13(2) EC Treaty

5. DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

5.1. Need for Community intervention

5.1.1. Objectives pursued

The objective of the prolongation is to ensure the continuation of the Community Action Programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between women and men. The present programme will expire on 31 December 2005. The prolongation is deemed necessary to guarantee continuity of Community action in a transitional period characterised by important institutional changes (enlargement of the Union, a new European Parliament and a new Commission) until the adoption of a new comprehensive multiannual Framework Programme on the financing of actions in the employment and social field including gender equality.

The objective of the Decision remains unchanged: to support the activities of organisations active at European level in the field of equality for women and men, of which an ongoing programme of work or a specific action serves the general European interest the field of equality for women and men or pursues an objective which is part of the European Union's policy in this area.

5.1.2. Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

The Programme which it is proposed to extend is a new one aimed at providing a legal basis for awarding grants to organisations active at European level in the field of equality for men and women for the years 2004 and 2005. Its adoption was made necessary by the new structure of the Commission's budget under the new Financial Regulation with effect from 2004.

5.1.3. Measures taken following ex post evaluation

The activities of the European Women's Lobby have in the past been subject to several annual evaluations by the Commission's departments. In addition, an audit report was drawn up in 1999 at the European Parliament's request. These results have shown that the Lobby's activities have an effective, significant impact, in particular by informing women of their rights, and that it has a substantial influence on policymakers at European, national, regional and local level with regard to the promotion of gender equality.

A report presenting the results obtained by the beneficiaries is scheduled for December 2006, in particular with a view to assessing its effectiveness as regards the achievement of its objectives.

5.2. Action envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

In the context of the Amsterdam Treaty, gender mainstreaming has been firmly anchored in Article 3. In parallel to gender mainstreaming, specific actions in favour of women have proved to be essential in order to eliminate persistent inequalities. The activities of certain organisations help to promote gender equality. The European Women's Lobby in particular, which is present in almost all Member States and has over 3000 members, plays a major role in promoting, monitoring and disseminating Community measures aimed at women with a view to achieving equality between women and men.

The general objective of the Programme is to reinforce Community action in the field of equality between men and women and the effectiveness of such action by offering financial support to organisations active at European level in the field of equality between women and men, including the European Women's Lobby.

The activities carried out by organisations which are eligible to receive a Community grant under the Programme will come under one of the following strands:

Strand 1: ongoing activities of the European Women's Lobby, whose members are, inter alia, women's organisations in the Member States of the European Union, subject to observance of the following principles:

- it must be free to select its members,

- it must be free to pursue its activities.

Strand 2: ongoing activities of an organisation pursuing an objective of general European interest in the field of gender equality or an objective forming part of the European Union's policy in this area. This applies to a non-profit-making body carrying out its activities exclusively in order to achieve equality between women and men or an organisation with a wider aim which carries out part of its activities exclusively to promote equality between women and men. An annual operating grant may be awarded to support the implementation of such an organisation's ongoing programme of work.

Strand 3: specific actions of an organisation pursuing an objective of general European interest in the field of equality between women and men or an objective forming part of the European Union's policy in this area.

5.3. Methods of implementation

The delivery mechanisms stipulated in the proposal are in keeping with the classic Community approach to grants and co-funding on the basis of a detailed financial request. The actions to be taken may be funded by subsidies for joint financing with other sources. In this case, the level of financial assistance from the Commission may not exceed, as a general rule, 80% of the expenditure actually incurred by the recipient. The Programme is managed centrally by the Commission

6. FINANCIAL IMPACT

6.1. Total financial impact on Part B (over the entire programming period)

(The method of calculating the total amounts set out in the table below must be explained by the breakdown in Table 6.2. )

6.1.1. Financial intervention

Commitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)

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6.1.2. Technical and administrative assistance, support expenditure and IT expenditure (commitment appropriations)

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6.2. Calculation of costs by measure envisaged in Part B (over the entire programming period) [12]

[12] For further information, see separate explanatory note.

(Where there is more than one action, give sufficient detail of the specific measures to be taken for each one to allow the volume and costs of the outputs to be estimated.)

Commitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)

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If necessary, explain the method of calculation

7. IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

7.1. Impact on human resources

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* Existing resources

7.2. Overall financial impact of human resources

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The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

7.3. Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action

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The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

1 Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.

I. Annual total (7.2 + 7.3) // EUR 36.000

II. Duration of action // 1 year

III. Total cost of action (I x II) // EUR 36.000

The needs for human and administrative resources shall be covered within the allocation granted to the managing Directorate General in the framework of the annual allocation procedure.

8. FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

8.1. Follow-up arrangements

The prolongation will continue to be implemented along the same lines as the Programme in its first two years. Implementation will involve participation in selection panels of calls for proposals, monitoring of ongoing contracts and financial control of all transactions between the Commission and the beneficiaries.

8.2. Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

Given that this Programme is designed to promote gender equality, the functions of monitoring and evaluation naturally form part of the activities implemented, in such a way as to derive maximum benefit from them.

The Programme is subject to the submission of a report by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the achievement of its objectives. This report shall be based on the results obtained by the beneficiaries and shall assess, in particular, their effectiveness in achieving the said objectives.

9. ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

All the measures funded are subject to ex ante, in itinere and ex post analysis by the responsible departments as regards content quality and cost-effectiveness. The grant application forms will require information on the identity and nature of potential beneficiaries so that their reliability can be assessed in advance. Fraud prevention measures (checks, reports) are included in the agreements or contracts between the Commission and beneficiaries. The Commission will check reports and ensure that work has been properly carried out before intermediate and/or final payments are made. Special attention will be made in order to avoid double funding. In addition, controls by the Commission or the Court of Auditors of the European Communities may be carried out on the basis of documents or on the spot.