WRITTEN QUESTION E-0923/00 by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding application.
Date: 2000-03-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, European Commission, United Kingdom, application of EU law, care for the elderly, powers of the institutions (EU), voluntary organisation

C 53 E/40

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

The Commission fully recognizes the opportunity offered by the 2000 Millennium General Assembly and
Summit Meeting of the United Nations to address shared international concerns for peace, sustainable
development and poverty reduction.

The Commission is of course open to taking on board such proposals to the extent that they are
compatible with Community policies and within the limits of the Commission(cid:146)s competences.

With regard to the organisational aspects of reform and strengthening the United Nations to increase
efficiency and accountability, the Commission plays its role in the coordination with regard to Community
decision-making in this area, as well as in the external representation of the Community(cid:146)s position on
these issues.

(2001/C 53 E/045)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0923/00

by Theresa Villiers (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 March 2000)

Subject: Funding application

The group Research into Ageing were promised an EU grant almost 4 years ago? They have yet to receive
the funding which they were promised. The reference numbers of the agreements are SOC 96 102180 and
SOC 97 101790. Research into Ageing ws subsequently informed that the grants could not be made until
the judgment on case C-239/96 was received from the European Court of Justice. This case challenged the
Commission(cid:146)s call for applications for grants from budget line B3-4104, concerning elderly people.

The UK withdrew case C-239/96 in October 1998. The grants made conditional on the outcome of the
case (including SOC 96 102180 and SOC 97 101790) have yet to be paid.

When will the Research into Ageing group receive its funding pursuant to SOC 96 102180 and SOC 97
101790? Surely, this is contrary to the established Community principle of (cid:145)legitimate expectation(cid:146)?

Will the Commission please give general clarification as to when the grants made conditional on the
outcome of C-239/96 will be paid? What action does the Commission intend to take in light of the
withdrawal of C-239/96? Will all conditional grants now be paid out and how does the Commission
intend to avoid similar unacceptable delays in the future?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(26 May 2000)

The two agreements mentioned by the Honourable Member were only concluded conditionally, following
cases brought by the United Kingdom (cases C-239/96 and C-240/96) and in accordance with the
consequent order made by the President of the Court of justice. These cases challenged the Commission(cid:146)s
call for applications for grants from two budget lines, concerning elderly people (B3-4104) and social
exclusion (B3-4103) respectively. These challenges were made on similar grounds to case C-106/96 also
brought by the United Kingdom, where on 12 May 1998 the Court found against the Commission. This
ruling was followed by the Inter-Institutional Agreement of 13 October 1998 between the Parliament, the
Council and the Commission on the legal bases and implementation of the Community budget (1).

Having regard to these considerations and in particular to the very close similarity between the
expenditure contemplated by the above-mentioned conditional agreement and that in case C-106/96, the
Commission was regrettably left with no choice but to refrain from making the payments concerned. The
Commission is writing to Research into Ageing and all organisations with similar agreements to inform
them of the position.

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/41

Regarding future action, the introduction of a mandate for Community action to help combat social
exclusion by the Amsterdam Treaty has clarified the basis for action in this area, and as set out in the
Commission(cid:146)s communication (cid:145)Building an Inclusive Europe(cid:146) (2)
the Commission intends to present
proposals for Community action implementing this new mandate. This will provide a solid basis for
future Community action helping to combat social exclusion.

(1) OJ C 344/1, 12.11.1998.
(2) COM(2000) 79 final.

(2001/C 53 E/046)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0925/00

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(25 March 2000)

Subject: Stockholm Declaration on education about the Holocaust

What steps has the Commission taken to act on the Stockholm Declaration on education about the
Holocaust in the EU and the Member States?

(2001/C 53 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1000/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(31 March 2000)

Subject: Stockholm Declaration

What is the Commission proposing to do to ensure implementation of the Stockholm Declaration on the
teaching of the Shoa?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-0925/00 and E-1000/00
given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(4 May 2000)

The Commission attaches the greatest importance to the fight against racism, xenophobia and anti-
Semitism and, in general terms, to encouraging attitudes and values making for respect, acceptance and
tolerance in multicultural social contexts in particular.

As regards Community action in the field of school education, the Comenius chapter of the Socrates
programme provides for transnational cooperation for the purpose of intercultural education involving
teaching establishments and other actors with a relevant interest. Over the five years during which
Socrates I was in place, around 100 transnational projects a year were launched in this field.

In Socrates II, the intercultural dimension (cid:129) including the nurturing of attitudes and values underlying a
pluralist society (cid:129) is given greater emphasis and is becoming one of the features common to school
initiatives, training projects for those working in education, and the Comenius Networks.

It should, however, be stressed that the organisation and make-up of education systems in the Community
are a matter for the Member States alone.