WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2229/98 by Kirsi PIHA to the Commission. EU human rights projects
Date: 1998-07-16
Institutions: European Parliament, PIHA
Subjects: EU financial instrument, European Parliament, European Union, budget, commitment of expenditure, dissemination of EU information, human rights, non-governmental organisation, report

C 96/60

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.4.1999

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(17 September 1998)

Following the interinstitutional agreement on legal bases and implementation of the budget and the ad hoc
agreement for 1998 reached on 17 July 1998 the Commission has authorised on 29 July the resumption of the line
B3-4109 Measures for combating violence against children, adolescents and women.

The Council and the Commission have also jointly stated that, regarding the fight against social exclusion, the
Council considers that the Treaty of Amsterdam, once ratified, will provide the means of establishing the
requisite legal bases. The Commission will consider how redirecting the measures covered by the budget lines
B3-4101 Co-operation with charitable associations, B3-4102 Preparatory actions to encourage co-operation
between Member States to combat social exclusion, and B3-4116 Co-operation with non-governmental
organisations and associations formed by the socially excluded and the elderly, would enable them to be
regarded as preparatory to new Community action.

Moreover, the Commission has already decided on 14 July 1998 to deblock the lines B3-4106 Disabled persons,
B3-4113 Integration of refugees, B3-4114 Fight against racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism.

For the line B3-4304 Health and well-being the Commission is awaiting the adoption of the legal base. The only
lines in the field of social aid for which there is not yet a solution, are the lines B3-4108 Measures in favour of the
family and children and B3-440 Combating drugs.

(1999/C 96/086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2229/98

by Kirsi Piha (PPE) to the Commission

(16 July 1998)

Subject: EU human rights projects

The European Union participates in many projects to promote human rights and democracy. The provision of
information about the projects implemented has been very sluggish.

What will the Commission do to inform Parliament about them more swiftly? What projects were implemented in
early 1998, and what funds were used for this purpose?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(23 September 1998)

The Commission tries to ensure that the use of the Community budget in general and the financial instruments
directly related to human rights in particular is as transparent as possible.

It draws up annual reports on the implementation of the declaration on human rights and democracy, schemes in
developing countries and other activities financed by Chapter B7-70. Parliament has examined these reports and,
with Mr Imbeni(cid:146)s report, contributed considerably to improving activities in this area.

Specific details of headings B7-7040 and B7-707 are provided at the close of each financial year. A report on their
use, accompanied by a full list of the associations, non-governmental organisations and other bodies that have
received grants and the exact amount of such grants, is sent to the President of Parliament and the chairman of the
relevant committee.

Details are not yet available for the first half of this year. Even if they were, they would not be meaningful, given
that all activities financed from budget headings with no legal basis have been temporarily suspended in the wake
of Judgment C/106-96 of the Court of Justice.