WRITTEN QUESTION E-0344/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Women's organisations — budget heading A-3046.
Date: 2003-02-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Community budget, EU Member State, Italy, international cooperation, invitation to tender, non-governmental organisation, trafficking in human beings, woman, women's movement

10.7.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 161 E/211

For the above reasons, the Commission is currently investigating the possibility of strengthening relations
between the Community and the Principality of Monaco within a legal framework specially suited to the
nature of those matters which are of common interest.

(2003/C 161 E/220)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0344/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Women’s organisations (cid:1) budget heading A-3046

(10 February 2003)

In 2002, at the European Parliament’s instigation, a new budget heading A-3046 was created and was
allocated annual funding of EUR 300 000, intended to cover ‘grants to women’s organisations not covered
by the European Women’s Lobby’. An identical entry appears in the 2003 budget which has now been
adopted.

Since the budget heading in question is a new one, would the Commission answer the following
questions?

In 2002, which women’s organisations applied for funding under budget heading A-3046? Which of them
were granted subsidies under that heading and how much money did they receive? Which had their
applications rejected? What were the grounds for either accepting or rejecting applications? What lessons
has the Commission drawn from budget heading A-3046’s first year (2002) of operation?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(21 March 2003)

the Commission launched an open call

Under new budget heading A-3046 entitled ‘Women’s Organisations’ to which the Honourable Member
refers,
for proposals aimed at a consortium of women’s
organisations not covered by the European Women’s Lobby, which assist women victims of trafficking
across Europe. Such an initiative would complement the range of instruments currently available in the
Union for combating trafficking, by developing an additional aspect, i.e. assistance on the ground for the
female victims of trafficking.

The Commission published the text of the open call for proposals (VP/2002/014) and the guidelines for
applicants on the Gender Equality Unit’s website (1) in mid July 2002 and the deadline for the submission
of proposals was set for 16 September 2002.

Two proposals were received in response to the call. A project submitted by Associazione IRENE (a non-
governmental organisation (NGO) representing an Italian network of established NGOs) aiming to co-
ordinate the action of local women’s associations from Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, Italy and
Norway, which are active in the field of providing support and assistance to victims of trafficking, was
selected for funding.

The main grounds for such a decision were related to transnationality and financial status of the project
proposals evaluated.

As for the lessons drawn from the first year of operation of budget heading A-3046, the Commission
considers that the response to its initiative has been positive and, therefore, intends to use the identical
heading in the 2003 budget for the same type of activities.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/equ_opp/index_en.htm.