Activites

• 2004/04/30 Final act published in Official Journal
  • Decision 2004/848
  • OJ L 195 02.06.2004, p. 0007-0011
• 2004/04/30 Final act signed
• 2004/04/29 End of procedure in Parliament
• #2575
• 2004/04/21 Council Meeting
• 2004/03/30 Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading
  • T5-0214/2004 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU (EPP-ED, GR) making some amendments to the common position. (Please see the summary of 15/03/04.)�

• 2004/03/29 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2004/03/16 Vote in committee, 2nd reading
  • A5-0161/2004
• 2004/02/12 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 2nd reading
• #2560
• 2004/02/06 Council Meeting
  • 16185/1/2003 summary

    The Council adopted its common position with the aim of safeguarding continuing support for these organisations in the years 2004 and 2005. The Council has accepted the main objectives of the Commission's proposal and several of the European Parliament's amendments. More specifically, the Council accepted 9 of the 20 amendments adopted by Parliament and which were also accepted by the Commission in their entirety in its amended proposal. Concerning the duration of the programme and the overall amount of money to be spent on it, the Common Position respects the agreement reached between the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council at the Trilogue on 24 November 2003 which sets the financial framework for the implementation of the programme for the period 2004-2005 at EUR 2.2 million. This amount is deemed acceptable for the Commission. It should also be noted that the Council decided not to accept the Parliament's amendment providing for an extension of the programme to 2008 and an increase in the budget to EUR 5.5 million. The Council rejected 3 of the amendments accepted by the Commission for the following reasons: - one amendment was rejected because the Council considered the word "reconciliation" of working and family life to be stronger and more appropriate than the word "interlinking". Concerning the second part of the amendment, the Council did not add specific sectors for gender mainstreaming as this would have raised the question as to why other specific sectors were not referred to; - another was rejected for purely technical reasons as the structure of the Annex was modified and the European Women's Lobby was referred to; - the Council rejected this amendment because the definition of "non-profit-making" organisations was difficult and could lead to an unwanted exclusion of certain organisations. In addition, the reference at the end of the sentence to an objective which is part of the European Union's policy in this area was maintained as funding is important in order to boost the European Union's policy aims. The Council made additional changes to the Commission's proposal. The principle amendment made by the Council to the Commission's proposal concerns the specific references to the European Women's Lobby, which were deleted in certain Articles. The reason for this was that it was preferable that the Decision should define the selection criteria for organisations eligible for funding in an abstract way. In addition, the Council also moves the explicit references to the European Women's Lobby in the body of the proposal for a decision to the annex and specifies that the operating grant is awarded directly to it after approval of its programme of work and budget.�

• 2004/01/15 Modified legislative proposal published
  • COM(2004)0017 summary

    The Commission accepted 11 amendments in entirety and partially accepted 1 amendment. It rejected 8 amendments. Those amendments accepted in clued the following: - the organisations in receipt of operating grants or grants for actions under strands 2 and 3 must pursue an objective of general European interest which is part of the European Union's policy in the field of gender equality; - the activities of the European Women's Lobby mentioned by the Commission proposal intended to reinforce the gender equality aspect in the EU enlargement process also include developing cooperation with women's organisations in the new Member States; - the addition of examples of the type of action to be financed under the programme, such as gender mainstreaming in education, sport, health and social protection and fostering cooperation with women's organisations in third countries; - the members of the European Women's Lobby include women's organizations. (Its Statutes also refer to women's sections of nongovernmental organisations and natural persons as members). The amendments rejected involve modifying the provisions on co financing, degressivity and, indirectly, the duration of the programme put forward in the Commission's proposal. The Commission does not accept the proposed increase in the cofinancing of the European Women's Lobby to a maximum of 90% rather than the 80% reflecting the current situation, or the application of the degressivity rule for grants to the other organisations with effect from the third year, when the programme only lasts for two years. Parliament also provided for an extension of the programme to 2008 and an increase in the budget to EUR 5.5 million euros. The Commission cannot accept amendments of this kind which are not in line with the trilogue's joint declaration of 24 November 2003. With regard to the reporting requirements, the Commission does not accept the Parliament's amendment, which imposes an obligation disproportionate to the amount and duration of the programme. Furthermore, as the programme finishes at the end of 2005, it would seem appropriate to maintain the obligation to submit a report by the end of 2006. With regard to the amendment enabling operating grants following calls for proposals under strand 2 to be awarded to organisations whose activities include combating violence as an obstacle to equality, the Commission states that this arbitrarily gives priority to a particular activity rather than keeping the provision general. Finally, the amendments providing the Parliament with prior information on the priority themes before issuing the calls for proposals is rejected, since it interferes with the power of execution of which the Commission has a monopoly.�

  • DG [{'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/social/', 'title': 'Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion'}],
• 2003/11/20 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
  • T5-0511/2003 summary

    The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Rodi KRATSA-TSAGAROPOULOU (EPP-ED, GR) and made some amendments to the Commission's proposals. (Please see the document dated 03/11/03.) To clarify: - the European Women's Lobby will receive at least 10% of cofinancing, even through contributions in kind and no degressivity; - bodies selected by a call for proposals will receive at least 20% of cofinancing even through contributions in kind, and degressivity in real terms at a maximum rate of 2.5% from the third year onwards; - the budget for the years 2004-2008 will be EUR 5.5 million; - whilst the external assessment report must be made available no later than 2006, the Commission must submit a report by 31 December 2007.�

• 2003/11/03 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0396/2003
• 2003/06/19 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2003/05/27 Additional information
• 2003/05/27 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2003)0279 summary

    PURPOSE : to give a legal basis to the Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women. CONTENT : 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 and with the integration of Article 13 which aims to combat all discrimination based, inter alia, on sex. 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. The activities of these European 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 active at European level in the field of equality between men and women. The adoption of Council Regulation 1605/2002/EC, Euratom 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. The proposal stipulates that 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. Concerning, in particular, the European Women's Lobby plays amajor 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. As regards the budgetary implications of the proposed measure, 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.�

  • DG [{'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/social/', 'title': 'Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion'}],

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2003)0279
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A5-0396/2003
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0511/2003
• Modified legislative proposal published: COM(2004)0017
• Council position published: 16185/1/2003
• Committee recommendation tabled for plenary, 2nd reading: A5-0161/2004
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 2nd reading: T5-0214/2004
• : Decision 2004/848
• : OJ L 195 02.06.2004, p. 0007-0011

History

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