WRITTEN QUESTION E-0448/02 by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission. NGOs.
Date: 2002-02-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European association, associative movement, non-governmental organisation, welfare

29.8.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 205 E/143

Commission? When does it now expect to submit a proposal? It appears that the timetable for the risk
analyses on account of which the revision was postponed, although they had in fact already been carried
out, has slipped again. Will the Commission finally state when it expects to submit a proposal to amend
the directive on batteries?

(1) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991, p. 38.
(2) OJ L 264, 23.10.1993, p. 51.
(3) OJ C 30, 4.2.1988, p. 1.

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2002)

The main objective of the future revision of Council Directive 91/157/EEC of 18 March 1991 on batteries
and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances (1)
is ensure the environmentally sound
management of all batteries and accumulators. This is widely shared objective and reflects the approach
taken in a number of Member States, which have adopted requirement concerning the collection and
recycling of all batteries.

The main point of contention in relation to the revision of the directive concerns the appropriate measures
to ensure that Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) batteries do not pose risk to human health and the environment. In
its preparation of a new proposal, the Commission is currently analysing the potential risks and a number
of possible risk reduction measures. These include mandatory take back systems, deposit schemes, and/or
marketing and use restrictions. In this context the question of substitution is examined as well, which is
raised in the first part of the Honourable Member’s question. It is of course the case that there are many
companies producing many different types of batteries, which do not contain cadmium. There are different
types of rechargeable batteries available on the market each of them with their own technical and
environmental specificity. The Commission’s decision will be based on the analysis of the relative benefits
of a cadmium ban in comparison with other economic instruments, in particular a deposit system.

The above mentioned analysis will
forthcoming in a near future.

form the basis of

the Commission’s proposal, which will be

Finally, the Commission engages in a open and constructive dialogue with all interested parties, including
representatives of civil society, of national authorities and of industry. The latter includes the European
Battery Recycling Association (EBRA), CollectNiCad, the European Portable Battery Association (EPBA) and
the association of European Storage Battery Manufactures (Eurobat).

(1) OJ L 78, 26.3.1991.

(2002/C 205 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0448/02

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

(21 February 2002)

Subject: NGOs

Which organisations make up the social platform of NGOs?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(18 April 2002)

The Platform of European Social non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
(often called ‘the Social
Platform’) has 37 European member organisations operating in the social sector. Several applications for
full membership are now pending, and associate membership is now available to social NGOs within the
accession countries.

C 205 E/144

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

29.8.2002

A list of the Platform members is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s secretariat.

More detail can be found on the Social Platform website: www.socialplatform.org

(2002/C 205 E/155)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0449/02

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

(21 February 2002)

Subject: European Women’s Lobby

How much money has the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) received from the DAPHNE programme in
each of the past three years?

Does the EWL have favoured status over other women’s organisations?

Does the European Commission provide money to other organisations, as it does to the EWL, to lobby
European politicians in order to secure their already earmarked funding or to lobby for more money?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2002)

The European Women’s Lobby has been awarded the following grants under the Daphne Programme
(Budget line B5-802):

A 1999/DAP/050 A ‘Putting an end to violence against women: exchange of best practice’ A Amount

awarded: € 78 373;

A 2000/DAP/046 A ‘Breaking the silence: campaigns to prevent violence against women’ A Amount

awarded: € 110 000;

A 2001/DAP/011 A ‘Breaking the silence: setting up a European observatory on violence against
women’ (two-year project) A Amount awarded in 2001: € 125 000 A Amount awarded in 2002:
€ 125 000.

Total of awards 1999-2002: € 438 373.

The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) is one of several organisations promoting the concept of European
civil society which receive Community funding under chapter A-30 of the budget. As indicated in the
comments under budget heading A-3037, the EWL, having been approved by the European Parliament,
has come to play an essential part in Community action in support of women. The Commission therefore
considers it entirely acceptable that an organisation of this kind can, in full compliance with the conditions
and procedures set out
in the DAPHNE
programme in support of preventive measures to tackle violence against children, young people and
women.

for proposals published every year,

in the call

take part

In general, grants under chapter A-30 are intended to finance independent institutions with a European
interest and to help to fund bodies or projects whose aim is to promote the European civil concept, in line
with the principles of the EC Treaty. The organisations which receive these grants must comply with the
Insofar as this is does not conflict with its
principles of
responsibilities in terms of implementing the budget, the Commission also ensures that the comments
relating to these budget headings, which reflect the wishes of the budgetary authority and therefore also
those of Parliament, are complied with. These wishes are indicated by earmarking funds for certain
headings in advance; the Commission is opposed to this system but tries nevertheless to comply with it.

the vade mecum on grant management.