WRITTEN QUESTION E-0954/01 by María Valenciano Martínez-Orozco (PSE) to the Commission. Gender equality in the Territorial Pacts for Employment programmes.
Date: 2001-03-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU employment policy, Structural Funds, gender equality

C 350 E/64

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

11.12.2001

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(20 June 2001)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his Written Question E-0850/01 (1).

That answer is still valid.

(1) See page 51.

(2001/C 350 E/069)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0954/01

by Mar(cid:237)a Valenciano Mart(cid:237)nez-Orozco (PSE) to the Commission

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Gender equality in the Territorial Pacts for Employment programmes

In 1996 the Commission launched an initiative entitled (cid:145)Territorial Pacts for Employment(cid:146) which enabled
89 programmes to be carried out, involving all the EU Member States. The programmes received funding
from the Directorate-General
for Regional Policy in respect of technical assistance and most of the
programmes have been completed or are drawing to a close thanks to financial support from the
operational programmes of each country or region involved.

One of the most important guidelines laid down by the Commission for use by the Member States when
selecting projects is the need to include measures and initiatives based on the Community(cid:146)s equal
opportunities policy.

Similarly, the Guide to the 2000-2006 Territorial Pacts for Employment recommends that the equal
opportunities policy be incorporated into the new programmes in the local areas in which they are
implemented.

Has the gender impact of the programmes implemented under the 89 Territorial Pacts been assessed with
a view to incorporating the experience gained from those programmes into new projects relating to the
current planning period and for the purpose of assessing the continuity or otherwise of programmes
which are coming to an end but which are to be repeated?

If not, what procedure will be applied for the purpose of identifying the best practices implemented and
learning the lessons which may be drawn from them?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(7 June 2001)

As the Honourable Member says, ever since they were launched in 1997, the Territorial Employment Pacts
(comprising projects financed by all the Structural Funds) have incorporated and encouraged measures to
promote equal opportunities between men and women. The rules applying in 1994-1999, less specific
than those introduced for 2000-2006, stipulated that projects financed by the Structural Funds must
respect the principle of equality.

Moreover, as one of the four pillars of European employment policy, equality in the broadest sense
(encompassing minorities and social exclusion as well as gender aspects) was given prominence in action
plans under the pacts. Innovative projects initiated by the pacts were promoted at two conferences in
1999 and 2000,
the proceedings of which are available on the Inforegio site (http://www.infore-
gio.cec.eu.int/). In addition, a database has been established to provide information on projects under the
89 pacts, classified according to the four European employment policy priorities. This base will be
operational on the Inforegio site within the next few months.

11.12.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 350 E/65

A list of the main projects under the pacts considered to promote equality is being sent to the Honourable
Member and to the Secretariat-General of Parliament. Some of these projects are to be continued and
extended in the new Structural Fund programming period 2000-2006.

Among the projects with a major favourable impact on equal opportunities, the Commission would
mention the women(cid:146)s employment foundation, FAST, presented at the November 1999 (cid:145)ideas exchange(cid:146).
This foundation, promoted by the Vienna pact, is intended especially for women with fairly basic skills, to
help them broaden the range of employment opportunities open to them. Other exemplary measures will
be described (after verification by experts), in the guide to transferable instruments and good practice
gleaned from the territorial employment pacts, to appear in June 2001.

Gender equality is a priority throughout the European Union, and will be taken into account in the
thematic evaluation of the territorial employment pacts, to start by the end of 2001.

(2001/C 350 E/070)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0966/01

by Ian Paisley (NI) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Secondment from the European Commission

Could the Commission indicate the terms and dates of employment and the amount of European monies
paid to Mr Logue and Mr Larkin who have been seconded from the European Commission to the office of
the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland?

Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission

(14 June 2001)

As part of the evidence of its practical commitment to the Northern Ireland peace process and the
administration of the newly created Northern Ireland Assembly, the Commission has approved the
secondments of Mr Larkin, an official of grade A3, and Mr Logue, an official of grade A4, as special
advisers to the Deputy First Minister in the Office of the First and Deputy First Ministers of the Northern
Ireland Executive. These secondments are due to terminate in the third quarter of 2002. The salaries and
allowances paid by the Commission to Mr Larkin and Mr Logue are commensurate with their respective
grade and domestic arrangements (family allowance, education allowance, etc.).

(2001/C 350 E/071)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0983/01

by Gorka Kn(cid:246)rr Borr(cid:224)s (Verts/ALE)
and Alexander de Roo (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: Risk which the Itoiz reservoir presents to public safety

The Confederaci(cid:243)n HidrogrÆfica del Ebro [Ebrus Hydrographic Confederation] has decided to begin filling
the Itoiz reservoir in Navarra this spring, despite a new report by Professor Arturo Rebollo Alonso,
a geologist and engineer who maintains that the project presents a serious threat to public safety on
account of the instability of the clay soil found in the area in which the dam is located. According to the
report it is highly probable that land slippage will block the filters built into the dam, thereby causing the
water level to increase and thus exposing nearby towns to the risk of flooding and placing extreme
pressure on the structure of the dam. This could make the reservoir overflow or even cause a breach in the
dam, which would be a full-blown human disaster and would threaten the safety of the Asco nuclear
power station.

The new report backs up earlier studies,
describes the project as constituting (cid:145)maximum risk(cid:146). Antonio Casas, Head of

including a report by Spain(cid:146)s Environment Ministry, which
the Department of