WRITTEN QUESTION E-3211/03 by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission. EU support for the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).
Date: 2003-10-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Denmark, EU aid, EU control, aid system, anti-racist movement, fraud

C 70 E/240

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

20.3.2004

(2004/C 70 E/258)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3211/03

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(30 October 2003)

Subject: EU support for the European Network Against Racism (ENAR)

In a series of articles between 13 and 17 October 2003, the Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet exposed a
falsification of membership figures, etc. within
host of cases of
(ethnic
Denmark’s largest
minorities’ umbrella organisation), or POEM.

irregularities concerning accounts,
immigrants’ organisation, Paraplyorganisationen for de Etniske Mindretal

As a result of the disclosure of the many irregularities within POEM, all public bodies in Denmark have
discontinued financial support for the organisation. As indicated in an earlier question to the Commission
(dated 15 October 2003), POEM has also received monies from the European Social Fund. In an article in
the 17 October 2003 edition, Ekstra Bladet states that
the POEM chairman, Bashy Quraishy, who,
according to Ekstra Bladet, cannot have been unaware of what was large-scale fraud and in all probability
was very much a party to it, also chairs the international organisation European Network Against Racism
(ENAR). The article explains that ENAR is EU-funded.

In the light of Danish immigrant organisations’
large-scale defrauding of public monies, can the
Commission say how much ENAR receives each year by way of EU support and what checks are made
to prevent misappropriation of funds by the organisation? Can the Commission furthermore say what the
consequences will be, in terms of future EU funding allocations, of any involvement by Bashy Quraishy in
the above-mentioned fraud?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(15 December 2003)

‘Stichting Steun European Network Against Racism’ (ENAR) is one of the organisations which receive an
operating grant from the Commission under the Community Action Programme to combat discrimination
2001-2006. For the period 2003-2004, ENAR is scheduled to receive an amount of EUR 851 241 towards
its operating costs.

ENAR has not received any European Social Fund co-financing under Objective 2 or 3 or Equal during the
current 2000-2006 programme period.

The Commission has audited all Community funding paid to ENAR in 2003. There were no irregularities
found. The Commission points out that the finances of ENAR are completely separate to the finances of
POEM, which is a different organisation. The role of the President of ENAR is an honorary one and,
consequently, the President does not receive payment for services rendered.

(2004/C 70 E/259)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3225/03

by Richard Corbett (PSE) to the Commission

(31 October 2003)

Subject: Live transmission of bullfights

Does the Commission consider that Spain is correctly applying Council Directive 89/552/EEC (1) which
requires in Article 22 that ‘Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that television
broadcasts by broadcasters under their jurisdiction do not include any programmes which might seriously
impair physical, mental or moral development of minors,
involve
pornography or gratuitous violence’?

in particular programmes that

Is the Commission aware that Spanish television broadcasts bullfights at a time of day at which children
are likely to be watching television?

(1) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989, p. 23.