WRITTEN QUESTION E-2810/01 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU policy on cultural affairs.
Date: 2001-10-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU programme, European Union, cultural policy, cultural promotion, powers of the institutions (EU)

C 134 E/112

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.6.2002

(2002/C 134 E/112)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2807/01

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 October 2001)

Subject: Possible irregularities in the EQUAL assistance programme

The aim of the EQUAL Community programme, financed by the European Social Fund, is to ‘promote
new means of combating all forms of discrimination and inequalities in connection with the labour
market, through transnational cooperation’ (1).

Has the Commission any information about possible irregularities involving the award, in the year 2000,
of a contract for technical assistance worth approximately EUR 20 million for the ‘EQUAL support
structure’ by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs?

If so, can the Commission indicate:

6 what those irregularities are?

6 to what extent the implementation of the programme was affected thereby?

6 what steps it has taken or plans to take in this matter?

6 whether there have also been irregularities in the award of other contracts for technical assistance (e.g.

in the XENOS programme) by the Federal Ministry?

(1) OJ C 127, 5.5.2000.

Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(3 December 2001)

The Commission is in the process of analysing the tendering procedure followed by the Federal Ministry of
Labour in order to check whether the Community rules on public contracts were complied with for the
selection of the Technical Assistance Office (TAO) responsible for implementing the EQUAL programme.

If the Commission’s analysis were to conclude that the Community rules on the awarding of public
contracts had not been complied with and, consequently, that the co-financing for this contract by the
European Social Fund (ESF) should be refused, the implementation of the EQUAL programme in Germany
could certainly suffer as a result. The Commission has already asked the German authorities to take all the
necessary steps to ensure normal
implementation of the programme if this hypothesis were to be
confirmed and the contract subsequently had to be annulled or cancelled.

The Commission is currently examining other contracts entered into by the Federal Ministry of Labour that
combine a transfer of powers from the public authority to private-law third parties (Beleihungsverträge)
with other services. Its intention is to verify that the Community rules for awarding public contracts have
been properly complied with.

(2002/C 134 E/113)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2810/01

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 October 2001)

Subject: EU policy on cultural affairs

The Commission’s Directorate-General
for Education and Culture is staffed in general by competent,
permanent, temporary and auxiliary officials. Commissioner Reding has shown herself to be particularly
committed to protecting Europe’s cultural heritage but she is not responsible for the composition or

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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structure of the DG’s staff, many of whom had been appointed before she took up her duties. Despite the
efforts being made, however, there is a feeling that the Commission spends much of its time continuously
deliberating over the financial aspects of culture, paying scant attention to promoting the uniting features
which the people of the member States have in common (manners and customs, traditions, history,
linguistic characteristics, etc.), which would be instrumental in promoting a European cultural identity.

How many ethnologists, historians, archaeologists, sociologists, anthropologists and philologists work in
the Education and Culture DG? What is the proportion of experts in those disciplines in relation to the
total number of permanent, temporary and auxiliary staff working in that DG?

Is it a condition of employment in the Education and Culture DG to have an academic or professional
background in the above disciplines?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(5 December 2001)

The typology of Community cultural activities is defined by the EC Treaty, more specifically by Article 151
(ex Article 128), which describes the Community’s role as follows:

6 encouraging cultural cooperation between Member States;

6 supporting and supplementing (financially if necessary) their action in the following areas:

1.

improvement of the knowledge and dissemination of the culture and history of the European
peoples;

2.

conservation and safeguarding of cultural heritage of European significance;

3. non-commercial cultural exchanges;

4.

artistic and literary creation, including in the audiovisual sector.

The Commission is implementing these objectives mainly via the ‘Culture 2000’ programme (established
by a Decision of the Parliament and the Council) and by supporting and encouraging reflection on various
areas of culture (1).

The Commission is perfectly well prepared for carrying out these tasks which, for the ‘Culture 2000’
programme in particular, involve ensuring proper implementation and administration.

In addition, for the management of this same programme, particularly during the project selection and
evaluation phases, the Commission uses experts in the various disciplines who are selected from lists
provided by the Member States (2).

in promoting cultural

Moreover,
the Commission regularly consults cultural operators
throughout Europe, including the applicant countries. For example, it is currently organising a Forum on
cultural cooperation in Europe, which will be held in Brussels on 21 and 22 November 2001.

reflection,

(1) http://europa. eu. int/comm/culture/index_en. html.
(2)

For example, in the last two financial years (2000 and 2001) the Commission has been able to rely on the opinions
of 120 experts in the various areas (the performing arts, fine arts, literature, literary translation, heritage, cultural
history, etc.).