WRITTEN QUESTION E-2071/00 by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission. Core funding for NGOs working for disabled people.
Date: 2000-06-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, EU aid, EU programme, anti-discriminatory measure, disabled person, financing, non-governmental organisation

C 113 E/62

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

The Commission entrusted a study to the London School of Economics in July 1995 in order to assess the
economic and social impact of the Cohesion fund on the beneficiary Member States and on the wider
economy of the Community. The study has been published by the Commission (1).

The study was aimed to develop evaluation techniques in the fields of infrastructure investment impact and
regional economic analysis. It was based on an innovative approach, which led to the development of
three distinct modelling approaches. Among main results, the study shows that there is a strong, positive
relationship between public infrastructure investment and private investment in the cohesion Member
States over the longer term, and that the Cohesion fund investments give rise to significant employment
impacts both in the short term and long term. In addition, it produces clear evidence that regional income
and spillover effects may exceed in some cases those resulting from more traditional approaches to project
appraisal such as cost-benefit analysis.

The models have been further tested and applied to a wider range of projects in the transport and
environment fields financed by the Cohesion fund. The results of such applications will be made available
in the annual reports of the Cohesion fund.

With regard to the ex-post evaluation of projects assisted by the Cohesion fund, the Commission has
evaluated so far, with the help of independent experts, 31 environment and 40 transport projects. The
results are generally favourable, in particular on employment. In the area of transport, Cohesion fund
assistance has generated about 2200 direct jobs in the construction phase. In the area of environment, it is
estimated that the assisted projects have created as a whole the equivalent of 43,000 person hours of
construction work and 460 permanent jobs.

(1)

ISBN 92-828-7238-6 (volumes 1, 2, 3).

(2001/C 113 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2071/00

by Elizabeth Lynne (ELDR) to the Commission

Subject: Core funding for NGOs working for disabled people

(27 June 2000)

Would the Commission outline exactly how much core funding was allocated to non-governmental
organisations working in the field of disability, exactly which organisations received such core funding,
and under which precise budget lines, for the year 1999? And for 1998? And for 1997?

Would the Commission explain which organisations are due to receive such funding under current plans
for 2000 and 2001, and under which budget lines?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 October 2000)

In 1997 € 1,6 million was granted to 26 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) (budget line B5-4106).
In 1998 € 1,28 million was granted to 14 NGOs (Budget line B5-4106). In 1999 € 0,87 million was
granted to 10 NGOs (Budget line B5-4111).

The list of NGOs to which the subsidies were granted in 1997, 1998 and 1999 is forwarded direct to the
Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

For the years 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 the European Disability Forum received core funding
amounting to € 750,000 as this organisation was expressly mentioned in the budget commentary to the
relevant budget line for each year.

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/63

In 2000, the Commission has organised a call for proposals for the provision of support for the co-
ordination activities of organisations operating at European level and active in fighting discrimination
(budget line B5-803). As a result of this call, the Commission is concluding subsidy agreements with a
range of organisations, some of which are active in the field of disability.
Information on which
organisations have received support will be published on the web-pages of the Commission:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/soc-prot/disable/index_en.htm.

In 2001, core funding for relevant European-level organisations with experience of fighting discrimination
will fall under the action programme on combating discrimination which is currently before the Council
and the Parliament. Based on Article 13 of the EC Treaty, the programme will deal with discrimination
based on racial and ethnic origin, religion and belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. The
Commission has proposed that the criteria for the selection of European-level NGOs for this purpose
should be established in conjunction with the programme committee. A call for proposals will then be
organised on the basis of those criteria. It is therefore not possible at this stage to say which organisations
will receive funding.

(2001/C 113 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2079/00

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2000)

Subject: Genetically modified (GM) crops and foodstuffs in the Fifth Framework Programme

What projects have been supported by the Fifth Framework Programme on the subject of testing of
genetically modified (GM) crops and foodstuffs for their impact on human health?

(2001/C 113 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2080/00

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2000)

Subject: Priority given to GM crop testing methods in calls for proposals

Is it possible to support GM crop health impact assessment under both the LIFE programme (Food,
Nutrition and Health) and the GROWTH programme (Measurement and Testing) parts of the Fifth
Framework Programme and if so, what priority is expected to be given to GM crop testing methods in
current and future calls for proposals?

(2001/C 113 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2081/00

by Eija-Riitta Korhola (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2000)

Subject: Research on food safety through the Fifth Framework Programme

In view of the time it may take to establish a European Authority on Food Safety acceptable to all Member
States, and the European institutions, to what extent will the Commission give priority to supporting
research on food safety through the Fifth Framework Programme in the interim period (budgetary
allocation and potential number of projects)?