Activites

• 1998/12/30 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Regulation 1998/2836
  • OJ L 354 30.12.1998, p. 0005
• #2154
• 1998/12/22 Council Meeting
• 1998/12/22 End of procedure in Parliament
• 1998/12/22 Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
• 1998/12/01 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1998)0694 summary

    The revised Commission proposal incorporates 10 of the 20 amendments approved by the European Parliament at second reading, the majority of which seek to re-establish the initial proposal with regard to: - coordination between Community programmes and programmes in Member States; - the financial threshold at which the committee is consulted; - the absence of a cut-off date for application of the regulation; - the comitological changes which seek to make provision for an advisory committee rather than a IIb committee (except for the description of the committee and information requirements). It also incorporates: - the strategic approach and the use of financial instruments to promote positive action to reduce inequalities; - mainstreaming in all aspects of development cooperation; - editing clarifications or improvements. However, the Commission rejected the amendments relating to the inclusion of even an indicative financial reference amount in the regulation, clarification of the instruments covered by the funding, invitations to tender and contracts, the origin of supplies, the Community level of training and sensitisation actions or the decision-making powers of the Commission in relation to the operations covered. It also rejected a number of amendments relating to transparency (participation of an MEP in joint committee meetings, introduction of a senior EC steering group). Finally, it does not wish to mention the cooperation "interventions" which may be funded.�

• 1998/09/17 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
  • T4-0496/1998 summary

    Adopting the recommendation for second reading by Mrs Karin JUNKER (PSE, D), the European Parliament again called for any financial reference concerning the programme to promote women in development to be deleted. Although it did not oppose setting a sum of ECU 25 million for the period 1999-2003, it considered that this deadline should not mark the end of the programme. In Parliament's view, this sum should be an indicative financial reference amount. The European Parliament also called for gender analysis in all areas of development cooperation. It called for the Commission to be assisted in its work by an advisory committee made up of one representative per Member State and chaired by the Commission representative which, in the case of the ACP countries will be the EDF committee, in the case of the Mediterranean countries the MED committee and in the case of Asian and Latin American countries the ALA committee. On the recurrent question of comitology, it proposed that any decision relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million (and not ECU 1 million as the Council wished) should be subject to a comitology procedure. It also suggested that a senior EC steering group on the integration of gender issues should be established in order to advise on implementation and monitor the execution of this regulation. It also insisted on full information for the European Parliament. Parliament also insisted that the European Union should integrate gender mainstreaming in all its development cooperation programmes. More particularly, Parliament hoped that actions relating to the main gender disparities would be supported, particularly with regard to access to resources and basic services (education, training and health) and participation in the decision-making processes in political, social and family life. It called for priority to be given to the role of women in crisis prevention, emergency operations, human rights, democratisation, trade, health and sexual and reproductive rights. Priority should also be given under this initiative to endogenous structures that can act as a catalyst in developing local capacities. Finally, it called for priority to be given to recipient and developing countries for the award of contracts and supplies where tenders were of equal quality.�

• 1998/07/21 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A4-0291/1998
• 1998/05/28 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #2093
• 1998/05/18 Council Meeting
• #2078
• 1998/03/30 Council Meeting
  • 06293/1/1998 summary

    In its common position on the proposal for a regulation on integrating gender issues into development cooperation, the Council maintained the basic structure of the Commission proposal. However, it did not follow the Commission with regard to: - the length of the regulation: the Commission considered that the type and nature of the interventions justified an open-ended regulation and did not therefore propose a time limit. The Council preferred to set a limit of 5 years from 1999 to 2003, with the Commission to present an evaluation of the regulation and propose any amendments needed after 3 years' application; - the inclusion of a financial reference amount in the text: the Council disagreed with the Commission and decided to include the sum of ECU 25 million for this initiative, i.e. an annual budget of ECU 5 million for the period in question; - comitology: the Commission proposal made provision for an opinion on actions in receipt of more than ECU 2 million to be given by the ALA, MED and EDF committees under the advisory committee procedure. The Council was in favour of a type IIb committee and a lower threshold of ECU 1 million; - certain aspects of the activities to be implemented and the tasks to be entrusted to the Commission: in particular, the Council included a new article authorising the Commission to organise meetings on gender issues with representatives of the Member States and recipient countries. Of the 9 European Parliament amendments retained by the Commission in its amended proposal (of the 17 adopted at first reading), the Council retained 7 relating mainly to: - coordination with other development cooperation instruments, especially national and inter-governmental instruments; - the type of gender issues to be integrated into development cooperation policies and actions; - the increase in Community interventions under this policy between now and the year 2003; - the reference to legislative acts seeking to safeguard equal opportunities for men and women; - the training needed at Commission level and in developing countries on these issues; - the inclusion among the beneficiaries of certain associations working in the public interest.�

• 1998/02/13 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(1998)0082 summary

    Following the opinion by the European Parliament of 19 November 1997, the Commission has submitted an amended proposal incorporating 9 of the 17 amendments adopted by Parliament on first reading. The amendments adopted concern in particular: - the coordination and integration of such questions within development policy, - measures to take account of inequalities between men and women regarding education and training, decision-making processes affecting political, economic, social and family life as support for measures seeking to eliminate inequalities, - support for actions taking into account the specific status of women, - support for measures leading to modifications to legislative and administrative acts to strengthen equality between men and women, - assistance provided under this regulation should seek to reinforce and coordinate not only other Community instruments but also those existing at intergovernmental and/or national level, - inclusion of public utility associations among beneficiaries of funding. The amendments not included in the amended proposal include: - measures relating to comitology seeking to achieve clarity and legal assistance with other similar regulations in the field of development, - amendments relating to human and institutional resources which are the responsibility of the Commission alone. In addition, the Commission has included in its modified proposals certain elements in line with Parliament's opinion and taking account of discussions within the 'development' Council drawing up the common position. These provisions relate to: - the adoption of a gender sensitive approach in all Community policies and need to include this in all Community measures in this area by the year 2003. - inclusion of agricultural and craft cooperatives and bodies among the beneficiaries of funding, - the issuing of invitations to tender to natural and legal persons in the beneficiary country and possible other third countries, by way of exception, - information for Member States regarding actions already approved, - comitology, - the introduction of a general review of this regulation three years after its entry into force. �

• #2052
• 1997/11/28 Council Meeting
  • 2052
• 1997/11/19 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T4-0552/1997 summary

    In adopting the report by Mrs Karin JUNKER (PSE, D), the European Parliament has approved the proposal for a Regulation on integrating gender issues in development cooperation, with the following amendments: - the assistance provided must support the integration of gender issues into the Union's development cooperation policy as a whole (to this end, it suggests creating a high-level Community group for the integration of gender issues at all stages of development cooperation); - assistance should reinforce and coordinate that provided pursuant to other instruments of development cooperation, including those existing at intergovernmental and national levels; - it should also be used for analysing the status of women and their contributions to society and the family, identifying the main sources of inequality between the sexes (e.g. access to resources, participation in the decision-making process, etc.) and encouraging the building up of institutional capacities, as well as legislative or legal acts on equal rights for men and women; - beneficiaries of activities may also include public utility associations, and priority will be given to endogenous structures that can act as catalysts in strengthening local capacities. Parliament has also tabled amendments relating to the budget: appropriations will be fixed for each financial year taking account of the principles of sound management. In awarding contracts, priority will be given, where tenders are of equal quality, to those from beneficiaries and developing countries. Finally, Parliament has tabled amendments concerning the committee arrangements and transparency of measures. It also seeks to reinforce the coordination of Community measures and those implemented by Member States through an improved flow of information within the committee. �

• 1997/11/18 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament summary

    Commissioner Pinheiro said that he could accept seven amendments in full: Nos 1, 2, 4 (on Article 1(2)), 5, 7, 8 and 11. As for Amendments Nos 3 and 9, these could be partially embraced. However, the Commission could not accept Amendments Nos 4 (on Article 1(1)) and 12 to 18. The Commissioner particularly rejected Amendments Nos 12, 15 and 18 on comitology for reasons of consistency, flexibility and clarity.

• 1997/10/08 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A4-0318/1997
• 1997/09/15 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 1997/06/09 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(1997)0265 summary

    OBJECTIVE: to provide financial aid and technical expertise to support the integration of gender issues in all Community policies and measures in developing countries. SUBSTANCE: the actions to be taken under the Regulation will be carried out so as to complement other development cooperation instruments. -Definition: 'gender' means the different and interrelated roles, responsibilities and opportunities of women and men relative to development, which are specific to each culture and society. -Objectives of activities: 1) to support the complete and effective integration (mainstreaming) of gender problems in development cooperation strategies, programmes and projects, 2) to facilitate well targeted, strategic and large-scale initiatives to reduce inequalities between men and women in developing countries, 3) to promote sensitization to gender issues and build up relevant capacities in developing countries; -Activities eligible under the general objectives: .provision of technical advice and support on the integration of gender issues in Community development measures, .research and studies aimed at including gender implications in analyses, policies and country and sector strategies, .schemes to build up the institutional and operational capacities of developing countries on gender issues at national, regional and local level, .supporting the collection and dissemination of key data broken down by sex, .development of methodologies, guidelines, manuals, etc. to improve the integration of gender issues in development activities, .thematic monitoring and evaluations, .training and sensitization of key decision-makers, .support to the formulation, follow-up and monitoring of national plans in developing countries designed to implement the Platform for Action of the Beijing Conference, . technical assistance to developing countries in measuring and valuing unpaid work for inclusion in GNP or for reflection in United Nations parallel satellite accounts (SNA,1993), .actions within the framework of coordination with Member States on integrating gender issues in development cooperation. Particular attention will be devoted to emerging areas, especially in connection with emergency operations and crisis prevention. -Aid recipients and cooperation partners: public authorities and government agencies, decentralized departments, regional bodies, universities and research centres, traditional and local communities, trade unions, cooperatives, and NGOs representing local people, particularly women; -Eligible expenditure: Community financing may cover investment (except purchase of real estate) and recurring expenditure (administrative, maintenance and operating expenditure). The instruments to be employed in the course of the activities are studies, technical assistance, education, training or other services, supplies and works, as well as audits and evaluation and monitoring missions. Operating costs may be covered only during the start-up phase of projects. Cofinancing with Member States and organizations is keenly sought, according to the nature of the operation concerned and the means of the partners concerned. -Form of aid: grants. -Profile of Community-aided projects: measures will be taken to ensure the Community character of projects. -Coherence and complementarity: coordination measures with the Commission are planned, in order to ensure that the measures carried out between all the partners, including Member States, are effective (an information exchange and coordination system is to be established at the place where measures are to be carried out). Coordination will also be ensured with the work of other international organizations active in this field (particularly the United Nations). -Decision-making procedure: the Commission is to manage and implement operations covered by the Regulation. It will be assisted by the geographically-determined committee depending on the country concerned (ALA, MED, EDF), on an advisory basis. The Commission is required to seek the opinion of the regional committee responsible, before taking any decision concerning a project costing more than ECU 2 m. Decisions on projects costing less, and additional commitments, will be taken without consulting the committee. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts will be open to the recipient countries and the Member States, as well other developing countries (or possibly, in exceptional cases, other countries, but only in the case of supply contracts). In every case, efforts must be made to ensure that projects are viable and sustainable. Clear information must be provided concerning the objectives of projects and their potential for success. -Information: the Commission is to submit an annual report to the European Parliament and the Council summarising and evaluating the operations financed during the year (list of projects, stating names of partners, any contracts concluded, external evaluations, etc.). Once each year an exchange of views will take place between the Commission and the various committees concerned on the subject of the general outlines of the operations to be carried out in the year ahead. A guide to funding is also published by the Commission indicating the main guidelines and criteria for project selection. -Evaluation: the Commission will regularly evaluate the operations implemented to check whether the objectives of the Regulation have been attained. These evaluations are to be forwarded to the various committees and to those Member States which wish to receive them.�

• #1967
• 1996/11/22 Council Meeting

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(1997)0265
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A4-0318/1997
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T4-0552/1997
• Debate in Council: 2052
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1998)0082
• Council position published: 06293/1/1998
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A4-0291/1998
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T4-0496/1998
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(1998)0694
• : Regulation 1998/2836
• : OJ L 354 30.12.1998, p. 0005

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)