Parliamentary questions
WRITTEN QUESTION P-0326/03
by Maurizio Turco (NI) to the Commission
(5 February 2003)

Subject: Small grants from Community funds, managed directly by the Commission, for a great variety of religious organisations

In the answer to Question E-0291/01(1), it was stated that "a great variety of religious organisations ... may be eligible for small grants from Community funds, managed directly by the Commission. These are of two types: firstly there are subsidies to help cover the running costs of coordination and representation activities, at European level, of not-for-profit organisations; and secondly there are specific grants for individual projects."

Will the Commission provide details of the amounts and the names of the organisations which received such small grants in the period 2000-2002 for the coordination and representation activities at European level of not-for-profit organisations and for individual projects?

(1) OJ C 261 E, 18.9.2001, p. 78.

P-0326/03EN
Answer given by Mrs Reding
on behalf of the Commission
(4 March 2003)

Only the Brussels-based organisation Church & Society Commission, which provides the secretariat for A Soul for Europe covering the main faiths (Christian, Muslim and Jewish) as well as humanism, received financial assistance for activities involving the coordination and representation of religious organisations at European level during the period 2000-2002. This was a result of "earmarking" by Parliament for budget heading A-3021. The grant amounts awarded in 2000, 2001 and 2002 were EUR 44 000, EUR 41 000 and EUR 39 780 respectively.

Heading A-3024 of the Union's general budget makes provision for grants for specific projects organised by associations and federations of European interest.

This budget heading was allocated an identical amount for each of the three years 2000, 2001 and 2002, namely EUR 1 260 000 per year.

This appropriation was exclusively intended to support activities and projects with a European focus as well as activities connected with reflection at European level on the ethical and spiritual foundations of the building of Europe.

Lists of beneficiaries during the three years in question are being sent directly to the Honourable Member and to the General Secretariat of Parliament.