WRITTEN QUESTION E-1193/01 by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission. Dependence of civil society organisations on Community funding.
Date: 2001-04-19
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, non-governmental organisation

C 364 E/56

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

(2001/C 364 E/061)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1191/01

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Use of an industrial site reclaimed through EU aid

The author of this question firstly wishes to stress that the Commission has taken more than four months
to give an (cid:129) incomplete (cid:129) answer to his Question E-2807/00 (1) regarding the use of an industrial site
industrial park, the
reclaimed by means of EU aid. The question concerned whether an international
infrastructure of which has been developed with the help of significant Community funds, may be
reassigned to be used for the building of a state school,
important though the latter may be from
Luxembourg(cid:146)s point of view.

In other words, can Community funds be used to redevelop land the ultimate intended use of which is no
longer that which justified the Commission(cid:146)s contribution?

(1) OJ C 187 E, 3.7.2001, p. 3.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(27 July 2001)

As the Commission informed the Honourable Member in September 2000, in order to answer his Written
Question E-2807/00 (1) the competent authorities needed to be contacted and this took some time.

The purpose of investments to which the Commission has contributed must continue to apply throughout
the duration of the programme and, where possible, until the goals set out therein have been achieved.

In accordance with Article 24 of Council Regulation (EEC) No 4253/88 of 19 December 1988 laying down
provisions for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 2052/88 as regards coordination of the activities of the
different Structural Funds between themselves and with the operations of the European Investment Bank
the
and the other existing financial
Commission can only reduce or suspend assistance in respect of the operation or measure concerned if
an examination reveals an irregularity or a significant change affecting the nature or conditions for the
implementation of the operation or measure for which the Commission(cid:146)s approval has not been sought.

instruments, as amended by Regulation (EC) No 2082/93 (2),

In the case in point, the goals set out in the programme have been attained. (By the end of 1997, some
1 561 jobs had been created on the Luxembourg side of the European Development Pole, the target set
being only 1 000.) Under the circumstances, the aim of the Community financial assistance has been met
and one cannot object where the use made of the facilities benefiting from the aid changes over time and
in line with the Member State(cid:146)s needs and priorities.

(1) OJ C 187 E, 3.7.2001, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 193, 31.7.1993, p. 20.

(2001/C 364 E/062)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1193/01

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(19 April 2001)

Subject: Dependence of civil society organisations on Community funding

In December 2000, in an audit report on the CLONG, the liaison committee of development NGOs vis-(cid:224)-
funds provided by the
vis
Commission.

the EU, doubts were expressed concerning the sound management of

The same report showed that the CLONG(cid:146)s past activities were financed as to 85 % by funds from the
Community budget. One is entitled to wonder how objective are the opinions of a civil society body which
is almost entirely dependent on the institution it is supposed to monitor critically.

20.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

C 364 E/57

Are there other civil society organisations (liaison committees, etc)
Commission? Which ones? Are these organisations dependent to the same degree as the CLONG?

receiving assistance from the

Answer given by Ms Schreyer on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

In Part A of the budget, various lines in Chapter A-30 finance organisations or projects which aim to
promote the concept of the European civil society. At the end of May each year, the Commission sends to
Parliament a report on these organisations, and in particular the level of co-financing. In line with the
Remarks on Article A-302, A-303 and A-304, the Commission requires these organisations to be co-
financed externally at the rate of 20 %.

In addition, a number of European level networks of non-governmental organisations receive funding on
the basis of other lines in the Community budget, especially in the social field. This funding is provided on
the basis that many such networks have experience and expertise in contributing to the development of
the opinions of members of disadvantaged or
European policies
in particular by ensuring that
discriminated groups are properly taken into account in their design,
implementation and evaluation.
Given the lack of alternative sources of funding for European level networks (as opposed to national level
non-governmental organisations (NGOs), a contribution to the running costs of such networks can
constitute a valuable asset in promoting effective social policy developments as this allows transnational
exchange of information and best practice and thereby also contributes to the development of a truly
European civil society.

Thus, on the basis of an amendment proposed by the Parliament (Cashman Report, A5-0259/2000,
amendment 67) and accepted by the Commission and the Council, the Community Action Programme to
combat discrimination (2001-2006) (Community Budget line B5-803) provides for the funding of the
running costs of European networks of NGOs involved in the fight against discrimination up to a limit of
90 % of the total eligible costs. Such networks are required to compete for funds, with funding decisions
being based both on the quality of their work programmes and their potential to contribute to policy
development and on their ability to administer Community funds. Networks which receive Community
subsidies are required to provide detailed accounts to the Commission on the use of the funds and are
subject to regular audits.

Similarly, contributions are made to the running costs of network organisations dealing with the fight
against Social Exclusion in the framework of the preparatory actions under Budget Line B3-4105.

in its proposal of 26 July 2000 for recasting the Financial Regulation (1), the Commission
Moreover,
proposed that the grants should be monitored. The proposal sets out in particular, the principles of co-
financing and degressiveness which are designed precisely to reduce as far as possible the dependence of
beneficiaries on Community funding (Articles 1 and 2). Exceptions to these principles should be possible
under the legal basis or the budgetary Remarks for organisations whose purpose is of general European
interest and international organisations.

With regard to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question about future relations with the Liaison Committee of
European Development NGOs (CLONG) (financed by line B7-6000, see page 1251 of the 2001 General
Budget), it must be stated that Parliament itself wished to see a high level of co-financing. In September
2001, Parliament(cid:146)s Committee on Budgets introduced an amendment to the 2001 Budget increasing co-
financing to 85 % which the Committee adopted. The Commission wanted to reduce co-financing for
precisely the same reasons as those given by the Honourable Member. In a decision of 27 April 2001, the
Commission, following an independent audit and in return for a reorganisation of CLONG(cid:146)s operational
methods, waived part of the amount to be recovered from CLONG. However, one of the conditions for
this waiver is that CLONG will prepare a plan to reduce the Community co-financing level of its operating
costs to 70 % in 2004. The purpose is to reduce CLONG(cid:146)s dependence on Community financing and to
increase its independence. The plan is expected in October 2001.

(1) COM(2000) 461 final.