WRITTEN QUESTION P-1582/00 by Maurizio Turco (TDI) to the Commission. Use of consumer association funds.
Date: 2000-05-12
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, consumer movement

C 46 E/204

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.2.2001

Council Directive 96/97/EC of 20 December 1996 amending Directive 86/378/EEC on the implementation
of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes (4) came
into force on 1 July 1997 in order to put Council Directive 86/378/EEC of 24 July 1986 (5) in conformity
with primary law, i.e. Article 141 of the EC Treaty as interpreted by the Court of justice. Member States
should take implementing measures retroactively with effect from 17 May 1990 (date of the Barber
judgement) for the above-mentioned right of part-time workers to join an occupational pension scheme as
from 8 April 1976. The United Kingdom has already taken implementing measures and has fulfilled its
obligations under Article 141 of the EC Treaty and Directive 96/97/EC. Therefore, it is advisable for part-
time lecturers to adress any question on this issue to the national authorities.

(1) ECR 1990 I-1889.
(2) Cases C-57/93 Vroege (cid:129) ECR 1994 I-4541; C-128/93 Fisscher (cid:129) ECR 1994 I-4583; C-246/96 Magorrian (cid:129) ECR

1997 I-7153.

(3) ECR.
(4) OJ L 46, 17.2.1997.
(5) OJ L 225, 12.8.1986.

(2001/C 46 E/244)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1582/00

by Maurizio Turco (TDI) to the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Subject: Use of consumer association funds

With reference to the projects submitted by consumer associations in 1998, 1999 and the first quarter of
2000, will the Commission say:

(cid:129) how many projects are receiving funding, what is their purpose, what funds were requested and what

funds were allocated?

(cid:129) how many projects were rejected, what funds were requested and why were they rejected?

(cid:129) what are the expenditure margins available to Commission officials,

in total and for individual

projects?

(cid:129) what measures have been directly funded by Commission officials? What was their purpose and what

amounts were allocated?

(cid:129) what measures have been rejected by Commission officials? What was their purpose and what

amounts were requested?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(23 June 2000)

Decision 283/1999/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 25 January 1999 establishes the general
framework for Community activities in favour of consumers for the period 1 January 1999 to 31 Decem-
ber 2003 with a total financial envelope of € 112,5 million. The activities consist of actions taken by the
Commission, financial support for the activities of European consumer organisations, as well as individual
projects presented by consumer organisations and appropriate independent public bodies.

The conditions for granting financial support are laid down in the Decision. In defining the conditions and
criteria for funding and in selecting the activities and projects the Commission is assisted by an advisory
committee of representatives of the Member States. Decision 283/1999/EC stipulates that the financial
support may not, in principle, exceed 50 % of the expenditure involved in implementing the project(s).

13.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 46 E/205

The themes of the calls for the period 1998, 1999 and 2000 have followed the Commission(cid:146)s priorities.
The theme of the call for 1999 was training. Since the entry into force of Decision 283/1999/EC the
consumer policy action programme for 1999 to 2001 supplies the logical reference for themes and targets
of the call. The approach of funding fewer but larger projects is in line with the Commission(cid:146)s overall
approach on subsidies.

In 1998, the Commission received 378 applications for financial support amounting to € 34,81 million
(including the support requested by European consumer organisations). It was decided to finance 63
projects, of which four were support for the annual activities of European consumer organisations. The
support was € 6;06 million for individual projects and € 1,19 million for the activities of European
consumer organisations.

In 1999, the Commission received 210 applications for financial support amounting to € 19,82 million.
(including the support requested by European consumer organisations). It was decided to finance 53
projects, of which four were support for the annual activities of European consumer organisations. The
total amount of support was € 4,54 million for individual projects and € 1,42 million for the activities of
European consumer organisations.

In 2000, the Commission received 178 applications for financial support amounting to € 16,24 million.
(including the support requested by European consumer organisations). It was decided to finance 41
projects, of which five were support for the annual activities of European consumer organisations. The
support was € 4,68 million for individual projects and € 1,60 million for the activities of European
consumer organisations.

Further information on consumer protection issues and funding granted for the period 1998-2000 is
available on the Internet:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg24/general_info/budget_en.html.

Due to the sheer volume, the 600 files rejected during the period 1999 to 2000 for not fulfilling the
conditions and criteria can not be displayed.

Additional information on financial support for the period 1998, 1999 and 2000 is sent directly to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(2001/C 46 E/245)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1590/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(19 May 2000)

Subject: European City of Culture

What criteria are applied in the selection of the European City of Culture for 2008? Is the Commission
aware that a number of cities are joining together to form regional bids? Is this permissible under current
criteria? If not, why not?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(4 July 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to her Written Question P-1581/00 (1)

(1) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, p. 169.