WRITTEN QUESTION E-2719/99 by Ieke van den Burg (PSE), Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE), Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE), Jo Leinen (PSE), Colette Flesch (ELDR), Hélène Flautre (Verts/ALE), Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE), Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE), Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE), José Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado (PPE-DE), Sylviane Ainardi (GUE/NGL), Ursula Stenzel (PPE-DE), Graham Watson (ELDR), Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos (PPE-DE), Gérard Deprez (PPE-DE), Martine Roure (PSE), Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL), Marie-Hélène Gillig (PSE) and Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Poverty and social exclusion.
C 219 E/184 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 (2000/C 219 E/236) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2658/99 by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Council (22 December 1999) Subject: Fisheries Council meetings Could the Council provide statistics about the representation and attendance by Member State Ministers at Fisheries Council meetings with particular regard to sub-Member State representation? How frequently do devolved Ministers represent Member States in Council when they have the right to speak and vote? Reply (14 February 2000) The Council would inform the Honourable Member that it does not keep statistics regarding the representation and attendance by Member States at Fisheries Councils. In cases of devolved responsibility, it is up to each Member State to determine how and by whom it is represented in Fisheries Council meetings. (2000/C 219 E/237) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2719/99 by Ieke van den Burg (PSE), Marietta Giannakou-Koutsikou (PPE-DE), Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE), Jo Leinen (PSE), Colette Flesch (ELDR), HØlŁne Flautre (Verts/ALE), Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE), Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE), Michel Hansenne (PPE-DE), JosØ Gil-Robles Gil-Delgado (PPE-DE), Sylviane Ainardi (GUE/NGL), Ursula Stenzel (PPE-DE), Graham Watson (ELDR), Giorgos Dimitrakopoulos (PPE-DE), GØrard Deprez (PPE-DE), Martine Roure (PSE), Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL), Marie-HØlŁne Gillig (PSE) and Caroline Lucas (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Poverty and social exclusion (18 January 2000) Article 137 of the Treaty of Amsterdam provides for the establishment of a programme to combat poverty and social exclusion. When will the Commission adopt such a programme? How does the Commission plan to prepare such a programme in conjunction with the NGOs concerned? How does the Commission propose to ensure that everybody has equal access to basic human rights? Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (10 February 2000) The Commission intends to present a Community action programme to support the efforts of Member States to promote social inclusion, based on the provisions in Article 137 (ex Article 118) EC Treaty, during the first half of 2000. The special meeting organised in Lisbon by the Portuguese Presidency in March 2000 on economic reform, employment and social cohesion will create an opportunity to reaffirm at the highest political level that the Community is entering the new century with renewed ambition to build a more inclusive society. The Commission will contribute to this meeting, and will subsequently present a proposal for an action programme. The Commission has already launched a broad consultation with Member States (through the high level group on social exclusion) and civil society organisations during 1999. In May, the Commission organised a round table conference Towards a Europe for all: how should the Community support Member States in promoting social inclusion?í In this two-day conference, nearly 200 participants, including non-govern- mental organisations, were able to express their views and make proposals. Copies of the background 1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/185 document and the final report of the conference are sent directly to the Honourable Member and the Secretariat general of the Parliament. The consultation process also confirmed that action to combat social exclusion is seen as an important means for improving conditions of access of fundamental rights. It is the Commissionís intention to reflect this in the aims of the programme. (2000/C 219 E/238) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2776/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission Subject: Funding of a training school for tourist couriers (18 January 2000) There is no school in Greece for training couriers for the tourist industry and the knowledge which those currently working as couriers possess is gained from their experience and in-house courses. Can the Commission answer the following: 1. Will it say whether it could provide joint funding to set up a post-secondary school to train couriers for the tourist industry? 2. For which in-house courses for training couriers in Greece did the Union provide funding from 1996 to 1999 and what were the sums involved? 3. How many people received training on those courses? 4. In view of the allegations that some of those who attended these courses were subsequently unable to work as couriers because it is prohibited to do so by their current profession, e. g. civil servants, can the Commission confirm that such people did not take part in the courses run between 1996 and 1999? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (15 February 2000) The Commission is collecting the information it needs to answer the question. It will communicate its findings as soon as possible. (2000/C 219 E/239) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2801/99 by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: European study grants In view of legislation currently in force in certain Member States that deprives students of access to grants when they have not been living within that Member State for a certain length of time, does not the Commission feel that it would be appropriate for it to initiate a transnational scheme to provide assistance for students who may not have been residing in the Member State for the required period but who, during that period, resided within the Community?