WRITTEN QUESTION No. 752/99 by Fernand HERMAN Free movement of persons who have taken early retirement in the territory of Member States
29. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 341/141 (1999/C 341/200) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0743/99 by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission (9 March 1999) Subject: NGOs subsidised under the EU’s external policy What criteria have been laid down with a view to determining the NGOs which are to be selected to receive Community subsidies so that they may participate in observer and training missions relating to elections as part of the EU’s external policy designed to encourage the development of the democratic process? Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (8 April 1999) The Commission awards Community funding to NGOs to participate in observer and training missions for elections according to their experience and professional capabilities and the quality of the projects proposed. Another important criterion in selecting NGOs as election observers is their impartiality in the electoral process. This is crucial where electoral support outside the EU takes the form of assistance and training for local NGOs for capacity building in the country where the elections are to be held. In many cases Community funding is used to promote partnerships between European and local NGOs. The Commission chooses NGOs which have the professional capabilities, experienced personnel, a knowledge of working languages and an effective methodology to observe the media in elections. On the training side the Commission is providing aid to academic institutions in the Member States which have undertaken recognised scientific work in this area. (1999/C 341/201) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0752/99 by Fernand Herman (PPE) to the Commission (29 March 1999) Subject: Free movement of persons who have taken early retirement in the territory of Member States Belgian people who have taken early retirement are considered by Belgian law to be unemployed and not seeking work and, as such, cannot leave Belgian territory for more than 30 days per year even though they are not required to sign on or to accept a job. The only requirement is to send ONEM (the Belgian National Employment Office) a card where dates of leave taken must be stated even though the people concerned are obliged to be on permanent and definitive leave. This ridiculous situation is a serious obstacle to the free movement of persons in the territory of Member States. It is contrary to the spirit and letter of the Treaties. I know that the Commission is aware of this problem and that it has put forward a proposal to the Council which seeks to introduce contractual arrangements regarding early retirement benefits falling within the scope of Regulation 1408/71 (1). The Council still has not reached the consensus necessary to adopt this proposal. What does the Commission intend to do in order to give fresh impetus to this initiative, which has been at a standstill for almost five years? (1) OJ L 149, 5. 7. 1971, p. 2