WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3703/98 by Hiltrud BREYER to the Council. Health insurance and discrimination against women
C 207/112 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 7. 1999 Does the Commission have any figures on how many projects will actually be launched in 1999? Can it say on what specific areas these projects will focus? Does it also have information on the number of projects in which Austrian officials will be involved? Is it already in a position to estimate how high the grant from Phare resources will be for this programme (broken down by specific areas) and what the cost to the Member States participating will be (taking Austria as an example)? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (15 January 1999) In May 1998 the Commission presented a list of some 100 partnership projects to the Member States, asking them to state whether they wished to be involved. It has received 360 replies and to date has found partners for 80 projects. The specific terms of reference are being drafted. Since then a further list of 28 projects derived from the 1998 programming exercise has been presented to the Member States and approximately 100 national officials are therefore expected to be seconded to postings in Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) in 1999. The projects do indeed focus on agriculture, finance, justice and home affairs and the environment, plus preparations for the administration of structural resources. There are two reasons for keeping the list short. All the partnership reports drew attention to the weakness of the CEECs’ administrative capabilities in these areas, and the Commission therefore has little choice initially but to keep the operation within reasonable bounds until such time as procedures and rules are properly fixed. Austria is currently responsible for three partnerships and will contribute to nine others. Grants from Phare funds for partnerships in which Austria is involved total EUR 4 million. As a rule Member States will be reimbursed for partnership costs incurred. (1999/C 207/152) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3703/98 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Council (4 December 1998) Subject: Health insurance and discrimination against women 1. 2. Is the Council aware that women pay higher health insurance contributions? Does it see this as contravening the principle of equality? 3. What measures is it planning to take to put a stop to this discriminatory practice? Reply (9 March 1999) For its part the Council has no information concerning discrimination against women of the type described by the Honourable Member in her question. In any case, it is for the Commission to ensure the application of the provisions of the EC Treaty and of the provisions adopted by the institutions pursuant thereto