WRITTEN QUESTION E-3859/03 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Funding of small Tacis Programme projects.
Date: 2003-12-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, European Commission, administration of the Institutions, project evaluation

C 88 E/476

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

All 25 current and future Member States are party to the following core conventions in these fields:

(cid:1) the International covenant on civil and political rights;

(cid:1) the International covenant on economic, social and cultural rights;

(cid:1) the Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment;

(cid:1) the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women;

(cid:1) the International convention on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination;

(cid:1) the Convention on the rights of the child;

(cid:1) the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees.

Within the Council of Europe, there are several conventions and protocols on human rights, equality,
protection of minorities and non-discrimination. The two most important conventions are the Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the European Convention for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. All 25 current and future
Member States are parties to them.

The question also mentions the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). To the
Commission’s knowledge, there are no conventions on human rights, equality, protection of minorities and
non-discrimination within the framework of the OECD. Regarding the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, all 25 current and future members of the Union are participating States. As
such, they subscribe to political commitments of OSCE in the fields of human rights, equality, protection
of minorities and non-discrimination. The OSCE, as a political organisation, has no legally binding texts in
these fields.

(2004/C 88 E/0488)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3859/03

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Funding of small Tacis Programme projects

Having regard to the fact that the percentage share of funding allocated to small projects under the Tacis
programme increased by 15 % in 2002, could the Commission state how many small projects received
funding, and what amounts of money were involved? Was the successful outcome of the projects verified?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2004)

The Commission understands that the Honourable Member is referring to the two principal types of ‘small
projects’ which exist under Tacis, namely the Tacis Cross-Border Co-operation (CBC) Programme Small
Project Facility and the Civil Society component of the Institution-Building Partnership Programme. With
reference to the Tacis Cross-Border Co-operation Programme Small Project Facility, an allocation of
EUR 6,7 million was made under the Tacis CBC Action Programme 2002. This resulted in a total number
of 32 small projects being recommended for funding and contracted. In addition, 12 micro projects (less
than EUR 50 000 each) were also contracted. The last evaluation round for the micro-project component
has recently been completed. The contracts for the micro-projects selected will be concluded in the coming
weeks.

As regards the Institution-Building Partnership Programme, the total amount allocated to the envelope for
Support to Civil Society and Local Initiatives under AP 2002 was EUR 11,7 million. A total of 62 projects
were recommended for funding and 61 were contracted by December 2003.

In both cases, the first projects began only recently, hence it is too early to assess the outcome at this
stage. Projects will be subject to monitoring and supervision by the Delegations.