Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women
Date: 2003-05-27
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, gender equality, position of women

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 27.5.2003
COM(2003) 279 final

2003/0109 (COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at
European level in the field of equality between men and women

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Introduction

Equality  between  women  and  men  has  been  recognised  as  a  fundamental  principle  of
Community law since the adoption of the Treaty of Rome.

Following  the  entry  into  force  of  the  Treaty  of  Amsterdam,  provisions  relating  to  equality
between  men  and  women  have  been  substantially  reinforced  by  Article  2  of  the  EC  Treaty
which provides that this principle is one of the Community’s essential tasks and Article 3(2)
of the EC Treaty which imposes an obligation on the Community to eliminate inequalities and
to  actively  promote  equality  between  men  and  women  in  all  fields  of  Community  action.
Furthermore, Article 13 of the EC Treaty confers on the Council the power to take appropriate
action to combat all discrimination based, inter alia, on sex. Pursuant to paragraph 2 of that
Article,  when 
incentive  measures,  excluding  any
harmonisation of the laws and  regulations  of  the  Member  States, to support action  taken  by
the Member States in order to contribute to the achievement of this objective, it shall act in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 EC.

the  Council  adopts  Community 

Article 13(2) EC is the appropriate legal basis, since the objective is to support the activities
of  organisations  active  at  European  level  in  order  to  achieve  equality  between  men  and
women in fields extending beyond those of employment and occupation.

of 

case 

The activities of these European organisations help to promote gender equality, particularly in
the 
women.
The European Women’s Lobby in particular plays a major role in promoting, monitoring and
disseminating Community measures aimed at women. Its activity therefore serves the general
European interest.

Community  measures 

specifically 

targeted 

at 

In this context, budget lines A-3037 (No ABB 040503) and A-3046 (No ABB 040501) of the
general  budget  of  the  European  Communities  for  the  year  2003  and  preceding  years  are
intended to support the European Women’s Lobby and organisations active at European level
in the field of equality between men and women.

Objectives

The adoption of Council  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1605/2002  of  25  June  20021  on  the
Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities and the
decision  to  base  the  manner  in  which  the  Commission’s  budget  is  constructed  on  the  ABB
approach (Activity Based Budgeting) involve establishing basic instruments for a number of
grants funded on the basis of appropriations defined in Part A (administrative appropriations)
of the Commission section of the budget (section III).

The  objective  of  this  Decision  is  therefore  to  provide  a  basic  instrument  for  awarding  an
operating grant to the European Women’s Lobby and other organisations active at European
level in the field of equality between men and women for the years 2004 and 2005.

1

OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

2

                                                
The  European  Women’s  Lobby  plays  a  major  role  in  promoting,  monitoring  and
disseminating Community measures aimed at women. Its activity therefore serves the general
European  interest.  For  this  reason,  the  proposed  basic  instrument  therefore  contains  a
reference to the beneficiary organisation and the operating grant is awarded without a call for
proposals.

Other organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women
which may be eligible for a grant on the basis of a call for proposals must be established in the
Member States or in the countries which agreed at the Copenhagen summit in 2002 to join the
European  Union  in  2004;  in  the  EFTA/EEA  countries,  in  accordance  with  the  conditions
established  in  the  EEA  agreement;  in  Romania,  Bulgaria  and  Turkey.  Their  activities  will
contribute to the development and implementation of Community actions to promote equality
between men and women.

Their activities must in all cases be in accordance with the principles underlying Community
action in the policy area of equality between men and women and have transnational potential.
In  addition,  the  organisations  must  have  been  legally  established  for  more  than  one  year,
acting alone or in the form of various coordinated associations.

Legal basis

The  proposal  is  based  on  Article  13  EC,  which  confers  on  the  Council  the  power  to  take
appropriate  action  to  combat  all  discrimination  based,  inter  alia,  on  sex.  Pursuant  to
paragraph 2  of  that  Article,  when  the  Council  adopts  Community  incentive  measures,
excluding  any  harmonisation  of  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the  Member  States,  to  support
action taken by the Member States in order to contribute to the achievement of this objective,
it shall act in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the EC Treaty.

Budgetary implications

The  amounts  provided  for  take  into  account  in  particular  the  amount  granted  to  the
European Women’s  Lobby  and  other  women’s  organisations  in  the  European  Community
budget  for  the  year  2003.  The  enlargement  of  the  Union  will  lead  to  an  increase  in
the activities  of  the  European  Women’s  Lobby  in  favour  of  its  members,  particularly  in  the
new Member States. The total amount proposed is EUR 2 222 000 for the two years covered
by the programme.

3

2003/0109 (COD)

Proposal for a

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at
European level in the field of equality between men and women

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular
Article 13(2) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission1,

Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty2,

Whereas:

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

The  principle  of  equality  between  men  and  women  is  a  fundamental  principle  of
Community law, laid down in Article 2 and Article 3(2) of the Treaty and clarified by
the case-law of the Court of Justice of the European Communities. Under the Treaty,
equality  between  men  and  women  is  one  of  the  Community’s  specific  “tasks”  and
objectives  and  the  Community  is  actively  to  promote  such  equality  in  all  fields  of
Community action.

Article 13 of the Treaty confers on the Council the power to take appropriate action to
combat all discrimination based, inter alia, on sex. Pursuant to Article 13(2), when the
Council  adopts  Community  incentive  measures,  excluding  any  harmonisation  of  the
laws  and  regulations  of  the  Member  States,  to  support  action  taken  by  the  Member
States  in  order  to  contribute  to  the  achievement  of  that  objective,  it  is  to  act  in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 251 of the Treaty.

Articles 21 and 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights  prohibit  any discrimination
on grounds of sex and lay down the principle of equality between men and women in
all areas.

Experience  of  action  at  Community  level  has  shown  that  promoting  gender  equality
calls  in  practice  for  a  combination  of  measures  and,  in  particular,  of  legislation  and
practical action designed to reinforce one another.

1

2

OJ C
OJ C

4

                                                
(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 

The Commission’s White Paper on Governance advocates the participation of citizens
in shaping and implementing policy, the involvement of civil society and civil society
organisations, and more effective and transparent consultation of interested parties.

The  Fourth  World  Conference  on  Women  held  in  Beijing  on  15  September  1995
adopted  a  Declaration  and  a  Platform  for  Action  calling  on  governments,  the
international  community  and  civil  society  to  take  strategic  action  to  eliminate  both
discrimination against women and the barriers to gender equality.

By  Decision  2001/51/EC3,  the  Council  established  a  Community  action  programme
relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality; these actions should
be supplemented by support measures in the areas concerned.

Budget lines A-3037 (No ABB 040503) and A-3046 (No ABB 040501) of the general
budget  of  the  European  Communities  for  the  year  2003  and  preceding  years  are
intended  to  support  the  European  Women’s  Lobby  and  women’s  organisations
working to promote equality between men and women.

Council  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1605/2002  of  25  June  2002  on  the
Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities4,
hereinafter “the Financial Regulation”, requires the adoption of a basic instrument for
existing support measures.

(10)  The  activities  of  some  organisations  help  to  promote  gender  equality,  particularly  in

the case of Community measures targeted specifically at women.

(11)  The European Women’s Lobby, in particular, which comprises most of the women’s
organisations in the 15 Member States and has over 3 000 members, plays a major role
in  promoting,  monitoring  and  disseminating  Community  measures  aimed  at  women
with  a  view  to  achieving  equality  between  men  and  women.  Its  activity  serves  the
general European interest.

(12)  Consequently,  a  structured  programme  should  be  adopted  to  provide  financial
assistance  to  such  organisations  in  the  form  of  an  operating  grant  and  to  certain
actions.

(13)  This programme covers a wide geographic area owing to the fact that the Agreement
on the European Economic Area (EEA) provides for increased cooperation in the field
of  gender  equality  between  the  European  Community  and  its  Member  States  on  the
one  hand  and  the  countries  of  the  European  Free  Trade  Association  on  the  other.
The EEA  Agreement  lays  down  the  procedures  for  the  participation  of  the
EFTA States  party  to  the  EEA  Agreement  in  Community  programmes  in  this  field.
Furthermore,  this  programme  should  be  opened  up  for  participation  by  associated
countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in accordance with the conditions established

3

4

OJ L 17, 19.1.2001, p. 22.
OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.

5

                                                
in  the  Europe  Agreements,  in  their  additional  protocols  and  in  the  decisions  of  the
respective Association Councils, and to Turkey in accordance with the conditions laid
down  in  the  Framework  Agreement  of  17  December  2001  establishing  the  general
principles for the participation of Turkey in Community programmes5.

(14)  The  specific  nature  of  organisations  active  at  European  level  in  the  field  of  the
promotion  of  equality  between  women  and  men  should  be  taken  into  account  when
laying down the procedures for granting such assistance.

(15)  This  Decision  establishes  a  financial  framework  for  the  entire  duration  of  the
programme which is to be the principal point of reference for the budgetary authority,
within  the  meaning  of  point  33  of  the  Interinstitutional  Agreement  of  6  May  1999
between  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council  and  the  Commission  on  budgetary
discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure6.

HAVE DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1 - (cid:1)Objective of the programme(cid:2)

1. 

2. 

1. 

2. 

A  Community  Action 
the
European Women’s Lobby  and  other  organisations  active  at  European  level  in  the
field of equality between men and women is established.

Programme 

provide 

support 

for 

to 

The  general  objective  of  the  programme  is  to  support  the  activities  of  these
organisations, of which an ongoing programme of work or a specific measure serves
the  general  European  interest  in  the  field  of  equality  between  men  and  women  or
pursues an objective which is part of the European Union’s policy in this area.

Article 2 - (cid:1)Access to the programme(cid:2)

The European Women’s Lobby, in so far as it complies with the provisions laid down
in  the  Annex,  shall  be  entitled  to  an  operating  grant  enabling  it  to  carry  out  its
activities of representing and coordinating non-governmental women’s organisations
and  relaying  information  on  women  to  the  European  institutions  and  non-
governmental organisations.

In order to be eligible for a grant, an organisation active at European level in the field
of equality between women and men must comply with the provisions laid down in
the Annex and meet the following requirements:

a)

b)

its  activities  must  contribute  to  the  development  and  implementation  of
Community actions to promote equality between men and women;

its activities must be in accordance with the principles underlying Community
action in the policy area of equality between men and women;

5

6

OJ L 61, 2.3.2002, p. 27.
OJ C 172, 18.6.1999, p. 1.

6

                                                
c)

d)

its activities must have transnational potential;

the  organisation  must  have  been  legally  established  for  more  than  one  year,
acting alone or in the form of various coordinated associations.

Article 3 - (cid:1)Participation of countries outside the Community(cid:2)

In addition to organisations established in the Member States, participation in the programme
shall be open to organisations active at European level  in  the  field  of  equality between men
and women established in:

a)

b)

c)

d)

1. 

2. 

1. 

countries  which  agreed  at 
the European Union in 2004;

the  Copenhagen 

summit 

in  2002 

to 

join

the  EFTA/EEA  countries,  in  accordance  with  the  conditions  laid  down  in  the  EEA
Agreement;

Romania and Bulgaria, the conditions for participation to be laid down in accordance
with  the  Europe  Agreements,  their  additional  protocols  and  the  decisions  of  the
respective Association Councils;

Turkey,  the  conditions  for  participation  to  be  laid  down  in  accordance  with
the Framework  Agreement  of  17  December  2001  on  the  general  principles  for  the
participation of Turkey in Community programmes.

Article 4 - (cid:1)Selection of beneficiaries(cid:2)

An operating grant shall be awarded directly to the European Women’s Lobby in so
far as it complies with the general criteria laid down in point 2.1 of the Annex.

The award of an operating grant on the basis of an ongoing programme of work or of
a  grant  for  a  specific  action  to  an  organisation  which  is  pursuing  an  objective  of
general  European  interest  or  an  objective  which  is  part  of  the  European  Union’s
policy of promoting equality between men and women must meet the general criteria
laid  down  in  points  2.2.  and  2.3.  of  the  Annex.  Organisations  entitled  to  receive
grants shall be selected following a call for proposals.

Article 5 - (cid:1)Awarding of the grant(cid:2)

The  operating  grant  awarded  to  the  European  Women’s  Lobby  and  other
organisations  active  at  European  level  in  the  field  of  equality  between  men  and
women may cover no more than 80% of the organisation’s total eligible expenditure
for the calendar year for which the grant is awarded.

7

2. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Pursuant  to  Article  113(2)  of  Regulation  (EC,  Euratom)  No  1605/2002,  and  by
reason of the nature of the organisations covered by this Decision, a derogation shall
be  made  from  the  principle  of  degressivity  for  operating  grants  awarded  to  the
European Women’s Lobby and for operating grants and grants for actions awarded to
other organisations active at European level in the field of equality between women
and men.

Article 6 - (cid:1)Financial provisions(cid:2)

This programme shall start on 1 January 2004 and shall end on 31 December 2005.

The  financial  framework  for  the  implementation  of  this  programme  for  the  period
from 2004 to 2005 shall be EUR 2.222 million.

The annual appropriations shall be authorised by the  budgetary authority within  the
limits of the financial perspectives.

Article 7 - (cid:1)Monitoring and evaluation(cid:2)

the 

By  31  December  2006  at 
to
the European Parliament  and  the  Council  on  the  achievement  of  the  objectives  of  this
programme. This report shall be based on the results obtained by the beneficiaries and  shall
assess, in particular, their effectiveness in achieving the objectives set out in Article 1 and the
Annex.

the  Commission  shall  submit  a  report 

latest, 

Article 8 - (cid:1)Entry into force(cid:2)

This  Decision  shall  enter  into  force  on  the  day  following  that  of  its  publication  in  the
Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, […]

For the European Parliament
The President
[...]

For the Council
The President
[...]

8

ANNEX

1.

ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED

The general objective laid down in Article 1 is to reinforce Community action in the
field  of  equality  between  men  and  women  and  the  effectiveness  of  such  action  by
offering financial support to the European  Women’s Lobby and other organisations
active at European level in the field of equality between women and men.

1.1.

Activities carried out by the European Women’s Lobby will include the following:

– 

Follow-up to the Beijing Platform for Action (United Nations);

–  Working  towards  improving  European  legislation  on  gender  equality  and  the

inclusion of women in all policy areas;

– 

– 

– 

Participation at meetings and conferences on gender equality;

Taking action to ensure that the views and interests of women are included in
national and European policies, in particular encouraging their participation in
decision-making;

Reinforcing  the  aspect  of  equality  between  men  and  women  in  the  EU
enlargement process.

1.2.

Activities  of  organisations  working  to  promote  equality  between  men  and  women
which  may  help  reinforce  and  increase  the  effectiveness  of  Community  action
include the following:

– 

– 

– 

– 

representation of interested parties at Community level;

awareness-raising  activities  aimed  at  promoting  gender  equality,  in  particular
through studies, campaigns and seminars;

dissemination of information on Community action to promote gender equality;

action promoting, inter alia, the reconciliation  of working  and  family life,  the
involvement  of  women  in  decision-making,  the  fight  against  gender-related
violence, gender stereotypes and discrimination at work.

2.

CARRYING OUT OF THE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED

The activities carried out by bodies which may receive a Community grant under the
programme will come under one of the following strands:

2.1.

Strand 1: ongoing activities of the European Women’s Lobby, whose members are
women’s organisations in the Member States of the European Union, respecting the
following principles:

– 

the European Women’s Lobby must be free to select its members;

9

– 

the  European  Women’s  Lobby  must  be  free  to  pursue  its  activities  in
accordance with point 1.2. of the Annex.

2.2.

Strand  2:  ongoing  activities  of  an  organisation  pursuing  an  objective  of  general
European  interest  in  the  field  of  gender  equality  or  an  objective  which  is  part  of
the European Union’s policy in this area.

In  accordance  with  Article  2  of  the  Decision,  this  applies  to  a  non-profit-making
body  carrying  out  its  activities  exclusively  in  order  to  achieve  equality  between
women  and  men  or  an  organisation  with  a  wider  aim  which  carries  out  part  of  its
activities exclusively to promote equality between women and men.

An  annual  operating  grant  may  be  awarded  to  support  implementation  of  such  an
organisation’s ongoing programme of work.

Strand  3:  specific  actions  of  an  organisation  pursuing  an  objective  of  general
European  interest  in  the  field  of  equality  between  women  and  men  or  an  objective
which is part of the European Union’s policy in this area.

SELECTION OF BENEFICIARIES

The operating grant will be awarded directly to the European Women’s Lobby under
strand 1 of the programme.

Organisations entitled to receive an operating grant under strand 2 of the programme
will be selected on the basis of calls for proposals.

Bodies entitled to receive a grant for specific action under strand 3 of the programme
will be selected on the basis of calls for proposals.

CHECKS AND AUDITS

including 

The beneficiary of an operating grant shall keep available for the Commission all the
supporting  documents, 
the  audited  financial  statement,  regarding
expenditure  incurred  during  the  grant  year,  for  a  period  of  five  years  following  the
last  payment.  The  beneficiary  of  a  grant  shall  ensure  that,  where  applicable,
supporting documents in the possession of partners or members be made available to
the Commission.

The Commission may have an audit of the use made of the  grant  carried out either
directly  by  its  own  staff  or  by  any  other  qualified  outside  body  of  its  choice.  Such
audits may be carried out throughout the lifetime of the agreement and for a period of
five  years  from  the  date  of  payment  of  the  balance.  Where  appropriate,  the  audit
findings may lead to recovery decisions by the Commission.

Commission  staff  and  outside  personnel  authorised  by  the  Commission  shall  have
appropriate  right  of  access,  in  particular  to  the  beneficiary’s  offices  and  to  all  the
information, including  information in electronic format, needed in  order  to  conduct
such audits.

2.3.

3.

3.1.

3.2.

3.3.

4.

4.1.

4.2.

4.3.

10

4.4.

4.5.

The Court of Auditors and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) shall enjoy the
same rights, especially of access, as the Commission.

In order to protect the European Communities’ financial interests  against fraud and
other  irregularities,  the  Commission  may  carry  out  on-the-spot  checks  and
inspections  under 
in  accordance  with  Council  Regulation
(EURATOM, EC) No 2185/961. Where necessary, investigations shall be conducted
by  the  European  Anti-Fraud  Office  (OLAF)  and  these  shall  be  governed  by
Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council.2

this  programme 

1

2

OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.
OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1.

11

                                                
LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): Employment and social affairs

Activity/activities: Equality between men and women

Title  of  action:  Proposal  for  a  DECISION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  PARLIAMENT  AND  OF
THE COUNCIL establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations
active at European level in the field of equality between men and women

1.

BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

A-3037 (No ABB 040503) and A-3046 (No ABB 040501)

OVERALL FIGURES

Total allocation for action: EUR million in commitment appropriations:

2.

2.1.

EUR 2.222

2.2.

Period of application:

2004 + 2005

2.3.

Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

a)

Schedule of commitment appropriations (financial intervention) (cf. point 6.1.1)

In the case of non-dissociated appropriations - commitments = payments

EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year
n

N + 1

n + 2

n + 3 N + 4

Commitments

1.1

1.122

n + 5
and
subs.
years

Total

2.222

b)

Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure (cf. point 6.1.2)

Commitments

None None

Subtotal a+b

Commitments

1.1

1.122

2.222

12

c)

Overall financial impact of human resources and other administrative expenditure
(cf. points 7.2. and 7.3.)

Commitments/
Payments

None None

TOTAL a+b+c

Commitments

1.1

1.122

2.222

2.4.

Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective

(cid:1)X Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

(cid:1) Proposal  will  entail  reprogramming  of  the  relevant  heading  in  the  financial
perspective.

(cid:1) Proposal  may  require  application  of  the  provisions  of  the  Interinstitutional
Agreement.

2.5.

Financial impact on revenue

(cid:1)X Proposal  has  no  financial  implications  (involves  technical  aspects  regarding
implementation of a measure)

OR

(cid:1) Proposal has financial impact - the effect on revenue is as follows:

Budget
line

Revenue

EUR million (to one decimal place)

Prior
to
action
(Year
n-1)

Year
n3

Situation following action

n+1

n+2

n+3

n+4

n+5

a) Revenue in absolute
terms1

b)Change in revenue2

 (cid:1)

13

3.

BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

Type of expenditure

New

EFTA
contribution

Contributions
from
applicant
countries

Heading in
financial
perspective

Non-Comp Non-diff

NO

YES

YES

No 5

The action is new in this form; however, it follows on from  Community  action  which
has existed in some form for several years and the main aim is to give a legal basis to
such action.

4.

LEGAL BASIS

Article 13(2) of the EC Treaty

5.

5.1.

DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

Need for Community intervention1

5.1.1 Objectives pursued

Equality between women and men has been a fundamental principle of Community law since the
Treaty of Rome was adopted.

Following  the  entry  into  force  of  the  Treaty  of  Amsterdam,  provisions  relating  to  equality
between men and women have been substantially reinforced by Article 2 of the EC Treaty which
provides  that  this  principle  is  one  of  the  Community’s  essential  tasks  and  Article  3(2)  of  the
EC Treaty  which  imposes  an  obligation  on  the  Community  to  eliminate  inequalities  and  to
actively  promote  equality  between  men  and  women  in  all  fields  of  Community  action.
Furthermore, Article 13 of the EC Treaty confers on the Council the power to take appropriate
action  to  combat  all  discrimination  based,  inter  alia,  on  sex.  Pursuant  to  paragraph  2  of  that
Article, when the Council adopts Community incentive measures, excluding any harmonisation
of the laws and regulations of the Member States, to support action taken by the Member States
in  order  to  contribute  to  the  achievement  of  this  objective,  it  shall  act  in  accordance  with  the
procedure referred to in Article 251 of the EC Treaty.

The activities of these organisations help to promote gender equality, particularly in the case of
Community  measures  targeted  specifically  at  women.  The  European  Women’s  Lobby  in
particular plays a major role in promoting, monitoring and disseminating Community measures
aimed at women. Its activity therefore serves the general European interest.

In  this  context,  budget  lines  A-3037  (No  ABB  040503)  and  A-3046  (No  ABB  040501)  of  the
general budget of the European Communities for the year 2003 and preceding years are intended
to support the European Women’s Lobby and organisations working to promote equality between
men and women.

1

For further information, see separate explanatory note.

14

                                                
Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 20022 on the Financial Regulation
applicable to the general budget of the European Communities makes it necessary to provide a
basic instrument for existing support measures.

A structured programme should be adopted to provide financial assistance to these organisations
active  at  European  level  in  the  field  of  equality  between  women  and  men  in  the  form  of  an
operating grant or grant for a specific action.

5.1.2 Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

Not applicable.

5.1.3 Measures taken following ex post evaluation

The activities of the European Women’s Lobby have in the past been subject to several annual
evaluations by the Commission’s departments. In addition, an audit report was drawn up in 1999
at the European Parliament’s request. These evaluations have shown that the Lobby’s activities
have an effective, significant impact, in particular by informing women of their rights, and that it
has a substantial influence on policy makers at European, national, regional and local level with
regard to the promotion of gender equality.

5.2.

Action envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

This  involves  the  provision  of  continued  financial  support  for  the  activities  of  the
European Women’s  Lobby  and  other  organisations  which  work  effectively  to  promote  equality
between  men  and  women  and  thereby  contribute  significantly  to  the  actions  carried  out  by  the
European Institutions in this field.

The operating grant awarded to the European Women’s Lobby and other organisations active at
European level in the field of gender equality will finance up to a maximum of  80%  of all the
organisation’s eligible expenditure for the calendar year for which the grant is awarded.

5.3.

Methods of implementation

A  grant  contract  will  be  concluded  between  the  organisations  concerned  and  the  Commission.
A work programme drawn up in agreement with both parties will be annexed to the contract.

6.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

6.1.

Total financial impact on Part B (over the entire programming period)

6.1.1 Financial intervention

Commitments in EUR million (to three decimal places)

Year n

n + 1

 n + 2

n + 3

n+ 4

Breakdown

Action 1

Action 2

Etc.

0.75

0.35

0.765

0.357

TOTAL 1.1

1.122

2

OJ L

15

Total

n + 5 and
subs.
Years

1.465

0.707

2.222

                                                
6.1.2 Technical and administrative assistance, support expenditure and IT expenditure

(commitment appropriations)

Year n

n + 1

 n + 2

n + 3

n + 4

Total

n + 5 and
subs.
Years

1)

a)

Technical and admini-
strative assistance:
Technical assistance
offices

None

None

None

None

b) Other 

technical  and
assis-

administrative 
tance:
- intra-muros:
- extra-muros:

for 

con-
of  which 
struction  and  mainte-
nance  of  computerised
management systems:

Subtotal 1 None

None

2)

a)

Support expenditure:

Studies

b) Meetings of experts

c)

Information  and  publi-
cations

Subtotal 2

TOTAL

16

6.2.

Calculation  of  costs  by  measure  envisaged  in  Part  B  (over  the  programming
period)3

Breakdown

Commitments in EUR million (to three decimal places)

Type
of
activity/output
(projects, files,
etc.)
1

Number of
activities/
Outputs (total
for years 1…n)

Average unit
cost

Total cost
(total for years
1…n)

2

3

4=(2X3)

Action 1
- Measure 1
- Measure 2
Action 2
- Measure 1
- Measure 2
- Measure 3

Etc.

TOTAL COST

If necessary explain the method of calculation

7.

IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

7.1.

Impact on human resources

Types of post

Staff to be assigned to management of the
action using existing and/or additional
resources

Number of
permanent posts

Number of
temporary posts

Total

Description of tasks deriving from
the action

1/3

1/3 A

Supervision, contact person

Officials or
Temporary staff

A
B
C
Other human resources
Total

1/3 A*

* Existing resources

3

For further information, see separate explanatory note.

17

                                                
7.2.

Overall financial impact of human resources

Type of human resources

Amount EUR

Method of calculation*

Officials
Temporary staff

Other human resources

24 000

 Amount  based  on  the  average
salary  of  A  officials  (A6 / 3)
published 
table
(year 2002)

the  salary 

in 

(specify budget line)

Total

24 000

The amounts are total expenditure for 12 months.

7.3.

Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action

Budget line
(number and heading)

Overall allocation (Title A7)
A0701 – Missions
A07030 – Meetings
A07031 – Compulsory committees (1)
A07032 – Non-compulsory committees (1)
A07040 – Conferences
A0705 – Studies and consultations
… Other expenditure (specify)

Information systems (A-5001/A-4300)

Other expenditure – part A (specify)

Amount EUR

Method of calculation

None

Total None

The amounts are total expenditure for 12 months.

(1)

Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.

I.
II.
III.

Annual total (7.2 + 7.3)
Duration of action
Total cost of action (I x II)

EUR
Years
EUR

8.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

8.1.

Monitoring arrangements

Qualitative and quantitative monitoring of the content of the work programme and the
results  obtained  will  be  carried  out  (identifying  the  various  reports  and  contributions
anticipated  and  participation  at/organisation  of  meetings)  and  annexed  to  the  grant
contract  for  organisations  active  at  European  level  in  the  field  of  equality  between
women and men entitled to a grant.

8.2.

Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

Evaluation  will  be  done  on  an  annual  basis.  The  final  payment  will  be  subject  to
approval of the financial report and the activity report presented by organisations active
at European level in the field of equality between women and men entitled to the grant.

18

The  evaluation  will  examine  the  relevance,  effectiveness  and  cost-effectiveness  of  the
actions carried out in relation to the  objectives set out in Article 1  of  this  Decision.  It
will also examine the impact of the programme as a whole.

The  evaluation  will  also  examine  the  complementarity  between  action  under  the
programme and that pursued under other relevant Community policies, instruments and
actions.

9.

ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

The  final  and  financial  reports  must  contain  an  attestation  from  an  external  auditor
certifying the veracity of the information contained in them.

In  order  to  protect  the  European  Communities’  financial  interests  against  fraud  and
other  irregularities,  the  Commission  may  carry  out  on-the-spot  checks  and  inspections
under  this  programme  in  accordance  with  Council  Regulation  (EURATOM, EC)
No 2185/964. Where necessary, investigations shall be conducted by the European Anti-
Fraud Office (OLAF) and these shall be governed by Regulation (EC) No 1073/1999 of
the European Parliament and of the Council5.

4

5

OJ L 292, 15.11.1996, p. 2.
OJ L 136, 31.5.1999, p. 1.

19