WRITTEN QUESTION P-2658/99 by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Fisheries Council meetings.
Date: 1999-12-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Council of the European Union, fisheries policy, operation of the Institutions

C 219 E/184

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

1.8.2000

(2000/C 219 E/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2658/99

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(22 December 1999)

Subject: Fisheries Council meetings

Could the Council provide statistics about the representation and attendance by Member State Ministers at
Fisheries Council meetings with particular regard to sub-Member State representation? How frequently do
devolved Ministers represent Member States in Council when they have the right to speak and vote?

Reply

(14 February 2000)

The Council would inform the Honourable Member that
it does not keep statistics regarding the
representation and attendance by Member States at Fisheries Councils. In cases of devolved responsibility,
it is up to each Member State to determine how and by whom it is represented in Fisheries Council
meetings.

(2000/C 219 E/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2719/99

by Ieke van den Burg (PSE), Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE),
Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE), Jo Leinen (PSE), Colette Flesch (ELDR),
HØlŁne Flautre (Verts/ALE), Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE), Concepci(cid:243) Ferrer (PPE-DE),
Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE), JosØ Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado (PPE-DE),
Sylviane Ainardi (GUE/NGL), Ursula Stenzel (PPE-DE), Graham Watson (ELDR),
Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos (PPE-DE), GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE), Martine Roure (PSE),
Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL), Marie-HØlŁne Gillig (PSE) and Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE)
to the Commission

Subject: Poverty and social exclusion

(18 January 2000)

Article 137 of the Treaty of Amsterdam provides for the establishment of a programme to combat poverty
and social exclusion. When will the Commission adopt such a programme? How does the Commission
plan to prepare such a programme in conjunction with the NGOs concerned? How does the Commission
propose to ensure that everybody has equal access to basic human rights?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2000)

The Commission intends to present a Community action programme to support the efforts of Member
States to promote social inclusion, based on the provisions in Article 137 (ex Article 118) EC Treaty,
during the first half of 2000.

The special meeting organised in Lisbon by the Portuguese Presidency in March 2000 on economic
reform, employment and social cohesion will create an opportunity to reaffirm at the highest political level
that the Community is entering the new century with renewed ambition to build a more inclusive society.
The Commission will contribute to this meeting, and will subsequently present a proposal for an action
programme.

The Commission has already launched a broad consultation with Member States (through the high level
group on social exclusion) and civil society organisations during 1999. In May, the Commission organised
a round table conference (cid:145)Towards a Europe for all: how should the Community support Member States in
promoting social inclusion?(cid:146) In this two-day conference, nearly 200 participants, including non-govern-
mental organisations, were able to express their views and make proposals. Copies of the background