91998E0066

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0066/98 by Hiltrud Breyer (V) to the Commission (29 January 1998)

Subject: Leonardo Programme

In the new version of the Leonardo Programme, aid to businesses has been increased and, at the same time, aid to non-governmental organizations has been abolished.

On what grounds was that decision taken?

Answer given by Mrs Cresson on behalf of the Commission (17 February 1998)

The future of the new generation of vocational training programmes of the Community is currently under internal discussion within the Commission. Hence, there can now be no statements about the future policy of support.

Within the frame of the current programme Leonardo da Vinci, the activities in support of enterprises, especially of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), have had special emphasis. The reason for that is the orientation of the European training policy towards labour market and employment policy issues, which was confirmed by the European Council of Luxemburg in November 1997. The employment European Council and the subsequent employment guidelines of the Community stress the special role of SMEs in creating and stabilising jobs.

There is no policy of reducing or cutting support for non-governmental organisations within the current programme Leonardo da Vinci. Moreover, an aim of European vocational training policy is to initiate or support transnational co-operation and partnership structures between as many actors as possible. The support for non-governmental organisations and co-operation structures also stems from the awareness that these organisations play an important role in the labour market.