WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3426/97 by Marjo MATIKAINEN-KALLSTRÖM to the Commission. Creation of a Task Force on Sport
C 134/162 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 4. 98 Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (4 December 1997) The Honourable Member has raised the issue of accommodation in the San Pio X district of Murcia which has been affected by the Murcia municipal urban renovation plan. The EC Treaty does not refer to the issue of housing policy, which is outside the scope of the responsibilities of the Commission and within the competence of the Member States. Problems in relation to housing and accommodation must be considered in the framework of the national policies of the Member States. However, the Commission strongly supports the protection and reinforcement of individual social rights, and welcomes the renewed commitment to fundamental social rights made by the Member States in the preamble to the Amsterdam Treaty and Article 117 of the Treaty. Article 117 of the Amsterdam Treaty lists áthe combating of social exclusioní as one of the six objectives of European social policy. Article 118(2) of the new Treaty also creates the possibility to develop actions to encourage co-operation between Member States to promote the exchange of experiences in order to combat social exclusion. The Commission is currently examining the possibilities which the Amsterdam Treaty could offer in relation to proposals for new measures in the field of social exclusion, once the Treaty has been ratified by the Member States and enters into force. Social exclusion is a multidimensional problem. Precarious housing and homelessness are perhaps the most visible forms of social exclusion. The Commission will consider housing exclusion problems in its future social exclusion action in the same way as other factors that contribute to social exclusion. As regards the protection of the rights of children in relation to housing policies, this issue is also outside the scope of the responsibilities of the Commission. However, the Commission underlines that all Member States have ratified the Convention of children’s rights, signed in 1989. (98/C 134/220) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3426/97 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstro¤m (PPE) to the Commission (31 October 1997) Subject: Creation of a Task Force on Sport In its report on the role of the European Union in the field of sport (the Pack report) Parliament proposed that the Commission set up a Task Force on sport and draw up a Green Paper with a view to the elaboration of a proper full-scale action plan in the field of sport. In considering the matter the Commission took a positive attitude to these projects, but as yet nothing has happened. In view of the above, what measures does the Commission propose taking, on what timescale, to set up a Sports Task Force and to draw up an action plan? Answer given by Mr Oreja on behalf of the Commission (27 November 1997) The Commission takes a positive attitude to the projects put forward in the report on the role of the Community in the field of sport. One of those projects was a request to set up a task force on sport and to draw up a green paper. Since the adoption of the Pack report by the Parliament a unit has been created to respond positively to the proposals made in the report. The unit will continue the work of the former sport sector and will intensify contacts with the world of sport. A communication on sport is under preparation; it might be followed by a green paper. The communication should be adopted by the Commission before August 1998