WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3953/97 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Applications for support under regional and research programmes
C 187/100 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 16. 6. 98 How true is this information, and what will the Commission do to improve freedom of expression and action for this and other institutes? Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (19 January 1998) The Commission shares the Honourable Memberís concerns, and those of the Council of Europe and international human rights organisations, about respect for freedom of expression and association in Croatia. The Commission considers that the Croatian governmentís recent legislative and judicial actions against civil society and human rights organisations, such as the Open society institute, as well as against independent media, create serious obstacles to the development of a pluralist democracy and to safeguarding human rights. Respect for human rights is one of the conditions for the development of improved relations between Croatia and the Community. Indeed, freedom of expression and of association are specifically mentioned in the Council conclusions of 29 April 1997 setting out the conditions for the development of bilateral relations with the countries covered by the Communityís regional approach towards South-Eastern Europe. Croatiaís attitude towards non-governmental organisations promoting human rights and freedom of expression is relevant in this context. (98/C 187/151) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3953/97 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission (12 December 1997) Subject: Applications for support under regional and research programmes In my question of 17 September 1997 to the Commission (E-2961/97) (1) I called for a reduction in bureaucracy in the EUís research policy and regional policy. Having received the Commissionís reply, I should like to ask a further question. What are the most common reasons for projects being rejected? (1) OJ C 134, 30. 4. 1998, p. 44. Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (27 January 1998) The principal criteria against which project proposals are evaluated in the research and technological development (RDT) programmes of the Community are scientific and technical excellence, innovativeness, transnational collaboration (European added value), cost effectiveness, the competence of the proposers and perspectives for disseminating and exploiting results. In addition, each specific programme sets out in its work programme the criteria essential for achieving its particular objectives. Because of limitations on available funding and significant competition for such funds, failure to meet the required standard for any of these criteria (which are all made public) will generally result in a proposal being rejected. The commonest reasons for failure of proposals in most programmes are insufficient scientific and technical quality innovativeness. Information on the most common reasons for rejecting RDT projects within structural funds programmes would need to be ascertained from the Member States themselves since they apply their own specific procedures to the selection of projects in the context of monitoring committees. Project selection criteria will similarly vary in the light of the particular priorities of the programme concerned