WRITTEN QUESTION E-3733/03 by Constanze Krehl (PSE) to the Commission. Social partnerships for regional structural development in Saxony.
Date: 2003-12-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Saxony, Structural Funds, economic and social cohesion, regional development, social partners, structural policy

C 78 E/638

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The specific objectives of the new sub-group are to establish a regular dialogue to increase the mutual
understanding in the sectors concerned, to devise guidelines for cooperation activities in the areas covered
by the sub-group and to identify subjects for which Community assistance would be most useful and
productive. The sub-group reports and makes recommendations to the Joint Commission, which will
monitor progress of its work. The activities of the sub-group will consist of formal meetings and informal
events (seminars, round tables, visit programmes, etc) and will be complementary to the established and
recently reinforced EU-Vietnam Human Rights dialogue between the Union Troika Heads of Mission in
Hanoi and the Government of Vietnam.

The Commission reconfirms its commitment to addressing the situation of human rights in Vietnam in all
political dialogue meetings with Vietnam. The Commission has raised human rights concerns during the
Joint Commission meeting, amongst others by pointing to the Parliament Resolution on religious freedom
of 20 November 2003. Moreover, the EU Troika ambassadors at the EU Human Rights dialogue meeting
with the Government of Vietnam on 26 November 2003, have again expressed concern and raised
questions about the free exercise of fundamental freedoms in Vietnam (freedom of opinion, press, religion
and association), the situation of persons of concern, death penalty and torture as well as the situation of
ethnic minorities. The EU Troika emphasised the importance of increased transparency, and the need for
the dialogue to translate into concrete improvements on the ground. In following up on these meetings
the Union will continue to monitor the situation closely, and to press for improvements in Vietnam’s
human rights record.

The Commission, like the Member States, believes that only a combination of dialogue and cooperation
can contribute to an improvement of the human rights situation in Vietnam. These will contribute to
develop greater tolerance towards dissent and acceptance of different views. Moreover, the country is in
the process of challenging social, economic and legal reform, not least in view of its intended World Trade
Organisation (WTO) accession, which entails the need to develop more transparent, accountable and
factor for the emergence of a more open
modern governance. This process is also an important
environment, where civil, political and religious rights can be improved.

Under the National Indicative Programme 2002-2004, EUR 9 million is earmarked for an institutional
support programme, which is currently under preparation and shall target key capacity problems within
the most significant legislative and judicial agencies, the National Assembly, Ministry of Justice, Supreme
Peoples Court, and Supreme Peoples Procuracy, and their respective training institutions.

(2004/C 78 E/0673)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3733/03

by Constanze Krehl (PSE) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Social partnerships for regional structural development in Saxony

The ‘Stiftung Innovation und Arbeit Sachsen’ (‘Foundation for Innovation and Employment in Saxony’) is a
specific example of one of Saxony’s ‘Alliances for Employment’. Employers, employees and the state are
represented in equal numbers in the foundation’s bodies, and one of its tasks is to provide expert advice to
small and medium-sized enterprises. The regional forums provide an infrastructure enabling regional actors
to become involved in the development of regional models and projects.

How important does the Commission believe it

1.
structural development?

is to support social partnerships for regional

2. What forms of EU aid are available to social partnerships for regional structural development, such as
the ‘Stiftung Innovation und Arbeit Sachsen’?

27.3.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/639

Is it necessary to change from institutional to project-based aid for regional offices for technical

3.
reasons?

In view of the principle of additionality, has a firm deadline been set for the granting of aid to

4.
organisational structures such as the regional offices?

5.
How does the Commission believe Structural Fund aid should interact with measures taken by the
Free State of Saxony in order to ensure the lasting success of social partnerships for regional structural
policy?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 2004)

The role of the social partners in implementing the programmes supported by the Structural
1. and 2.
Funds is clearly recognised in the relevant
In accordance with Article 8 of the general
legislation.
regulation on the Structural Funds (1), the social partners feature among authorities and bodies designated
by the Member States for the ‘preparation, financing monitoring and evaluation of assistance’. Article 8
also provides for the annual consultation of ‘the European-level organisations representing the social
partners about the structural policy of the Community’.

Social partner organisations may also act as project promoters, either alone or with other partners. In
addition, the Member State may sub-delegate responsibility to such organisations for the implementation
of (parts of) programmes, subject to national and Community rules, where this helps to realise the
objectives of the programmes concerned.

For actions in the field of human resource development supported by the European Social Fund (ESF) the
social partners can and should play a key role, in particular, in developing lifelong learning policies and
strategies to increase adaptability of companies and their workers.

3.
The current legislation remains in force until 31 December 2006. The Commission will in due time
bring forward proposals on the future of cohesion policy, including aspects relating to the involvement of
the social partners.

For the current generation of programmes financed by the Structural Funds,

4.
funds must be
committed at the level of the final beneficiaries by 31 December 2006. As it is an Objective 1 region,
Saxony co-finances substantial parts of its development activities in the context of Structural Funds
programmes. At the same time, the vast majority of expenditures under the state budget have no tie to
Structural Funds. It is for the State authorities to ensure that both elements are complementary with a view
to maximising the benefits for the citizens of Saxony.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 OF 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds,

OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2004/C 78 E/0674)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3751/03

by Roberta Angelilli (UEN) to the Commission

(10 December 2003)

Subject: Update on use of funding from the 2000 City Twinning Programme by the municipality of Terni

In its answer to question E-1029/03 (1), which asked whether the municipality of Terni had submitted
projects and secured funding under the 2000 City Twinning Programme, the Commission stated that no
funding had been granted for the year 2000.