WRITTEN QUESTION E-1667/00 by Rosemarie Müller (PSE) to the Commission. Transparency of youth exchange programmes.
Date: 2000-05-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, youth exchange scheme

C 53 E/174

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

The European Union has always declared that it is committed to respect for human rights and fundamental
freedoms, confirming its own obligations in respect of fundamental social rights and of the Convention for
the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

Moreover, in Article 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Organisation
states that (cid:145)in all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare
institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child
shall be a primary consideration(cid:146). The Convention also says that the child has a right to a family but not
that anyone has a right to a child.

1. What measures does the European Commission intend to take to ensure that Italy actually verifies
the paternity and maternity of Izabayo Fidencie and awards custody to her legitimate or natural parents?

2. What does the Commission intend to do to ensure that Italy suspends the transfer of Izabayo
Fidencie to Switzerland, in the light of the new documents produced and pending the decision by the
Lazio Administrative Court?

Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission

(30 June 2000)

The Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child are not part of Community law.

Accordingly, since the Commission has no powers in the matter, it cannot take action.

(2001/C 53 E/226)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1667/00

by Rosemarie M(cid:252)ller (PSE) to the Commission

Subject: Transparency of youth exchange programmes

(29 May 2000)

There are two levels at which transparency may be achieved. Firstly, by publicising and describing
procedures. But another aspect of transparency is concern to structure the procedures themselves so that
they are easy to understand.

With this in mind, does the Commission see any possibility of making its various exchange programmes
for school students and young people more user-friendly, by making the various application procedures
simpler, stricter and thus also more transparent?

In addition, can the Commission see any way to change the application periods, some of which are
exceptionally long?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(13 July 2000)

The Commission shares the view that transparency must be achieved not only through the use of open
procedures (cid:129) as is already the case (cid:129) but also through a simplification of these procedures.

Greater transparency, and thus easier access, have an important role to play in the implementation of the
Youth programme in particular. It should above all be remembered that the Youth programme combines
the activities of two Community action programmes (Youth for Europe III, European voluntary service
into a single entity. This has enabled the following aims to be achieved:
scheme for young people)
reduction of the number of programme objectives from ten to three; reduction of the number of actions
under the programme from eight to five; further decentralisation in the running of the programme by
national agencies (around 80 % of the programme budget). This allows applicants to be given advice
directly in the language of their respective country, and makes access to the programme considerably
easier.

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/175

The arrangements for implementing the programme have also been simplified wherever possible: flat-rate
funding for a large number of projects; new, simpler and shorter forms; user handbook available on the
Internet:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/youth.html.

Under the new Youth programme, uniform application deadlines apply for all actions. For action I
(exchange programmes for young people), for example, there are five different deadlines for projects
being run by the national agencies, each of which can be launched three months later. These deadlines are
laid down in an effort to ensure that the programme is run effectively, and this involves costly meetings
for the selection of projects. In addition, a large number of projects are selected by the national agencies.
All these measures should ensure that a financing contract is sent to all applicants before projects
commence.

(2001/C 53 E/227)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1671/00

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Payment of contractors and suppliers

Further to Ms Schreyer(cid:146)s answer to my Written Question No E-0505/00 (1), will the Commission indicate
when the interdepartmental working party on underperformance in the area of late payment is due to
report?

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 10.

Answer given by Mrs Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2000)

The Commission is sending direct
memorandum on reducing payment times which it adopted on 5 July 2000.

to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat

the

(2001/C 53 E/228)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1679/00

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Introduction of a Community patent

(29 May 2000)

In the recent debate concerning the communication on a European Research Area, the introduction of a
Community patent was raised.

How does the Commission propose to ensure that the Community patent is introduced as soon as possible
in the EU? What does the Commission estimate will be the eventual timetable for the project? By what
means does the Commission propose to ensure that the Community patent system becomes as unbureau-
cratic, user-friendly and profitable as possible?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(28 June 2000)

The Community patent is a priority issue for the Commission. A proposal for a regulation on the
Community patent is due to be adopted by the Commission in early July 2000. The final timetable for the
introduction of the Community patent will depend on many factors, not least on the success of the on-
going revision of the EC Treaty concerning the establishment of a new, centralised Community jurisdiction