WRITTEN QUESTION P-2858/00 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding of the Danish referendum campaign.
Date: 2000-09-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, Denmark, European Movement, euro, financial aid, promotion of the European idea, referendum

C 113 E/196

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

The Commission does not agree that questions relating to colour are excluded from the Directive.
Although there is no specific reference to colour in Article 13, the Commission believes that colour is an
important factor in the determination of a person(cid:146)s ethnic origin and that discrimination based on colour
is therefore contrary to the requirements of the directive.

(1) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.
(2) COM(1999) 566 final.

(2001/C 113 E/208)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2857/00

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 September 2000)

Subject: Standardisation of the procedures for holding competitive examinations for entry into the civil

service

The procedures for holding competitive examinations for the recruitment of civil servants vary from
Member State to Member State.

Among the fundamental principles of such examinations should be transparency and simplification of
administrative procedures, but these principles are often flouted by public bodies and hence unacceptable
irregularities may occur.

Can the Commission say whether it intends to introduce legislation on the subject, by proposing common
rules for holding competitive examinations, in order ensure that all Community citizens are subject to the
same conditions, that there are instruments to monitor the activity of the organisers of competitive
examinations in accordance with procedural standards (type of documentation to be submitted by
candidates, access to records, deadlines, appeals,
levels of appeal, etc.) which would be the same
throughout Europe and, finally, ensure that citizens do not have excessive costs to bear?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2000)

The Community is not legally competent to regulate the internal organisation of Member States(cid:146) public
services, including methods of recruitment. Furthermore, it is for the Member States to ensure that their
national rules on access to the public sector are correctly applied. Therefore, the Commission does not
intend to present a proposal for Community legislation aimed at harmonising the Member States(cid:146) methods
of recruitment of civil servants.

However, the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, monitors the correct application of the right of free
movement of workers in the public sector as interpreted by the Court of Justice.

(2001/C 113 E/209)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2858/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Funding of the Danish referendum campaign

(5 September 2000)

The European Movement (Copenhagen Chapter) is reported to be acting as the lynch pin of the pro-euro
campaign in the Danish referendum. The UK chapter is similarly reported to have acted as the channel for
funds for the lobby group Britain in Europe.

Its Brussels head office receives € 300 000 per year from Item A-3021 which is intended to support named
(cid:145)organisations advancing the idea of Europe(cid:146).

18.4.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 113 E/197

Many other organisations also receive funding to support their networking in the cause of an ever-closer
union. The A-30 chapter alone, which accounts for just a tiny percentage of funds available to this cause,
requires its agencies and agents to be active in the (cid:145)encouragement of partnerships with organisations in
the public and private sector(cid:146), the (cid:145)development of networks throughout Europe(cid:146), and the (cid:145)promotion of
European Integration(cid:146) (budget, p. 416).

This is tantamount to the promotion of fund-raising for campaigns to endorse closer EU integration, a
partisan approach to European politics.

this, and in the interests of

In the light of
transparency and increasing public confidence in the
Commission, can the Commission indicate which bodies and individuals which have publicly declared for
the Yes campaign in the Danish referendum are recipients of EU funding, directly, or indirectly through
affiliates or subsidiaries?

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2000)

Neither the Commission nor its representation in Denmark planned or carried out any campaign activities
or financially supported campaign activities carried out by external organisations or individuals in
connection with the Danish euro referendum held on 28 September 2000. As a matter of fact no credits
were allocated to the representation in the current financial year for euro referendum campaign activities.

The only organisation that received funds was the Syddansk Universitet which was granted a contribution
from research funds for a hearing directly linked to the referendum. The event was completely neutral and
both the YES and NO sides (political parties, organisations and movements) participated.

In 1998, following the publication in the Official journal of a call for proposals, within the framework of
the (cid:145)Building Europe Together(cid:146) programme and open to all non-profit making organisations in all Member
States, two Danish movements Nyt Europa and Europoeisk Ungdom, supporting a YES vote, were granted
financial contributions of € 40 000 and € 20 441 respectively and one Danish movement Juni Bevoegelsen,
supporting a NO vote, was granted a financial contribution of € 20 000 for information and communica-
tion actions on the Amsterdam Treaty principally debates, seminars and Community info kits.

In addition Nyt Europa were granted a further € 20 138 for the organisation of a conference and
documentation within the framework of a series of 33 (cid:145)Regional events(cid:146) on the Amsterdam Treaty carried
out through the representations in the Member States. In 1999 a modest grant of € 2 466 was accorded to
the Danish section of the European Movement for a seminar on (cid:145)Democracy in the EU(cid:146).

(2001/C 113 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2859/00

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(7 September 2000)

Subject: Elections in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Presidential, federal and municipal elections are being held in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on
24 September 2000. What is the Council(cid:146)s official position vis-(cid:224)-vis the elections and is it committed to
recognising the results, action which it has not so far taken?