Propuesta de Decisión del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo que modifica la Decisión 2001/51/CE del Consejo, por la que se establece un programa de acción comunitaria sobre la estrategia comunitaria en materia de igualdad entre mujeres y hombres, y la Decisión nº 848/2004/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, por la que se establece un programa de acción comunitario para la promoción de las organizaciones que trabajan a escala europea en el ámbito de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres /* COM/2004/0551 final - COD 2004/0194 */

Propuesta de DECISIÓN DEL PARLAMENTO EUROPEO Y DEL CONSEJO que modifica la Decisión 2001/51/CE del Consejo, por la que se establece un programa de acción comunitaria sobre la estrategia comunitaria en materia de igualdad entre mujeres y hombres, y la Decisión nº 848/2004/CE del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo, por la que se establece un programa de acción comunitario para la promoción de las organizaciones que trabajan a escala europea en el ámbito de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres

(presentada por la Comisión)

EXPOSICIÓN DE MOTIVOS

El compromiso de la UE con el fomento de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres viene de lejos, pues está incluido en el Tratado desde 1957, en directivas y en la jurisprudencia. El artículo 2 del Tratado reconoce la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres como un cometido fundamental de la Comunidad. De acuerdo con el apartado 2 del artículo 3 del Tratado, la Comunidad se fijará el objetivo de eliminar las desigualdades entre el hombre y la mujer y promover su igualdad en todas sus actividades. El artículo 13 faculta a la Comunidad para intervenir en la lucha contra la discriminación basada en una serie de motivos que incluyen el sexo. El marco jurídico comunitario garantiza que las mujeres y los hombres son iguales ante la ley, y a nivel europeo y nacional se ha adoptado una extensa gama de medidas. Sin embargo, en la UE la igualdad sigue viéndose mermada porque hombres y mujeres no gozan en la práctica de los mismos derechos, así como por la infrarrepresentación de las mujeres y la violencia contra ellas, todo lo cual pone de manifiesto la persistencia de desigualdades estructurales por motivos de género. Por consiguiente, es necesario un apoyo continuado para que la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres sea efectiva en todos los ámbitos de la vida.

El 20 de diciembre de 2000, el Consejo adoptó el programa de acción comunitaria sobre la estrategia comunitaria en materia de igualdad entre mujeres y hombres (2001-2005) [1], quinto programa de acción en este terreno, con una duración prevista de cinco años (desde el 1 de enero de 2001 al 31 de diciembre de 2005) y un presupuesto de 50 millones de euros. Este programa apoya la estrategia marco comunitaria sobre la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres (2001-2005), un nuevo enfoque que abarca todas las políticas comunitarias en un esfuerzo por impulsar la consecución de la igualdad mediante el desarrollo de las actividades horizontales necesarias y la mejora de la coordinación de las actividades relativas al género en los diversos ámbitos políticos.

[1] DO L 17 de 19.1.2001, p. 22.

Este programa tiene los siguientes objetivos, divididos en los capítulos correspondientes:

(a) Promover y difundir los valores y prácticas en los que se basa la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres. Este capítulo aborda las actividades de sensibilización destinadas a potenciar la dimensión comunitaria de la promoción de la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres, entre las que se encuentran, por ejemplo, la celebración de conferencias, seminarios y campañas transnacionales, actos a gran escala en la UE, publicaciones y sitios web.

(b) Mejorar la comprensión de las cuestiones relacionadas con la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres, incluida la discriminación directa e indirecta basada en el sexo así como la discriminación múltiple contra las mujeres, examinando la eficacia de las políticas y las prácticas mediante un análisis previo de las mismas, el seguimiento de su aplicación y la evaluación de su impacto. Este capítulo conjuga, por ejemplo, el apoyo al desarrollo de estadísticas e indicadores comparables, el análisis de la dimensión del género en las políticas y medidas de la UE, la supervisión de la aplicación y ejecución de la legislación comunitaria en materia de igualdad, los estudios y la publicación de un informe anual sobre la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres.

(c) Potenciar la capacidad de los agentes sociales primordiales (ONG, interlocutores sociales de la UE o redes transnacionales de autoridades regionales o locales) para promover eficazmente la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres, en particular fomentando el intercambio de información y buenas prácticas y el establecimiento de redes a nivel comunitario.

Las acciones que pueden emprenderse en el marco de cada capítulo figuran en el anexo de la Decisión del Consejo por la que se establece el programa. Las acciones deberán llevarse a cabo en un marco transnacional a fin de que aporten valor añadido comunitario. El Comité del programa determinó los siguientes temas prioritarios anuales para las convocatorias de propuestas: igualdad de remuneración (2001), conciliación de la vida laboral y familiar (2002), las mujeres en la toma de decisiones (2003), y los papeles y estereotipos de hombres y mujeres (2004-2005).

Este programa contribuye a integrar la dimensión del género en todas las políticas y a utilizar su potencial para promover la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres, así como a aumentar la sensibilización sobre las cuestiones en juego. Además, contribuye también a reforzar la cooperación y la asociación entre todas las partes implicadas en la promoción de la igualdad, especialmente las autoridades nacionales, los organismos dedicados al fomento de la igualdad, los interlocutores sociales y las ONG. Se ha llevado a cabo una evaluación a medio plazo, que contó con la colaboración de expertos independientes, para que la Comisión pueda continuar potenciando y mejorando el sistema de apoyo comunitario a la promoción de la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres.

El 29 de abril de 2004, el Parlamento Europeo y el Consejo establecieron otro programa de acción comunitario para la promoción de las organizaciones que trabajan a escala europea en el ámbito de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres [2]. El programa, que se puso en marcha el 1 de enero de 2004 y culminará el 31 de diciembre de 2005, cuenta con un presupuesto de 2,2 millones de euros. La Decisión por la que se establece el programa proporciona un fundamento jurídico básico a una práctica de larga tradición como es el respaldo a las organizaciones que trabajan en favor de la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres.

[2] DO L 157 de 30.4.2004, p. 18.

Ambos programas finalizarán al mismo tiempo en un momento de cambios fundamentales, en general, para la construcción y el funcionamiento de la Unión Europea ampliada que requieren una profunda reflexión sobre el futuro enfoque que debe adoptarse para la puesta en práctica de la Agenda de política social, especialmente en lo tocante a la estructura de los programas de acción comunitarios en materia social y de empleo. Actualmente, existen cinco programas de este tipo que se aplican de modo semejante y respaldan medidas de la misma índole. Además de los dos programas dedicados a la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres, existen dos programas de acción encaminados a apoyar el método abierto de coordinación en el ámbito del empleo (medidas incentivadoras del empleo) y el terreno de la inclusión social (programa de acción para la inclusión social), así como un programa dedicado a la lucha contra la discriminación. A excepción de los programas para la igualdad de género, todos los demás expirarán a finales de 2006.

La propuesta de Decisión del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo relativa a un programa marco sobre la financiación de acciones en los ámbitos social y de empleo cubrirá el mismo periodo que las nuevas perspectivas financieras, es decir, los años 2007-2013 [3]. La Comisión ha analizado pormenorizadamente el futuro de la aplicación de la Agenda de política social, incluidos los objetivos y el funcionamiento de los programas de acción comunitarios y los vínculos entre los mismos. La nueva propuesta relativa al periodo 2007-2013 debe simplificar la estructura presupuestaria mediante la fusión de los programas de acción comunitarios actuales en un amplio programa marco que cubrirá los mismos tipos de acciones cofinanciadas, que son los análisis y estudios, el apoyo a mecanismos de intercambio europeos, la sensibilización y el respaldo a organizaciones de la sociedad civil. El capítulo sobre la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres del programa marco propuesto con relación al periodo 2007-2013 se basará en la experiencia anterior y seguirá subvencionando el desarrollo y la aplicación de la legislación comunitaria en el ámbito de la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres y fomentando la integración de la perspectiva del género en todas las políticas comunitarias. También servirá de apoyo a las suprarredes de la UE dedicadas a promover la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres.

[3] COM (2004) 488 final.

Durante el periodo transitorio y hasta la adopción del nuevo programa marco acorde con lo anteriormente expuesto, es esencial velar por la continuidad de la ayuda comunitaria a la promoción de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres, y evitar cualquier interrupción del mecanismo actualmente en vigor destinado a sustentar los objetivos establecidos en el artículo 13 del Tratado CE. Los principios y los objetivos, así como las áreas de intervención de la estrategia marco comunitaria sobre la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres, que coinciden con los establecidos en la Decisión 2001/51/CE y su anexo, conservan su plena validez en este año transitorio.

Teniendo cuenta estas circunstancias, la Comisión Europea propone la prórroga sin cambios hasta 2006 de ambos programas relativos a la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres.

Así pues, la Comisión Europea propone lo siguiente:

- prorrogar hasta finales de 2006 tanto el programa relativo a una estrategia marco comunitaria sobre la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres (2001-2005) como el programa de acción comunitario para la promoción de las organizaciones que trabajan a escala europea en el ámbito de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres;

- teniendo cuenta esta prórroga, situar el presupuesto global del programa relativo a la estrategia marco comunitaria sobre la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres (2001-2005) en 61,5 millones de euros; y

- teniendo cuenta esta prórroga, situar el presupuesto general del programa de acción comunitario para la promoción de las organizaciones que trabajan a escala europea en el ámbito de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres en 3,3 millones de euros.

2004/0194 (COD)

EL PARLAMENTO EUROPEO Y EL CONSEJO DE LA UNIÓN EUROPEA,

Visto el Tratado constitutivo de la Comunidad Europea y, en particular, el apartado 2 de su artículo 13,

Vista la propuesta de la Comisión [4],

[4] DO C [...] de [...], p. [...].

Visto el dictamen del Comité Económico y Social Europeo [5],

[5] DO C [...] de [...], p. [...].

Visto el dictamen del Comité de las Regiones [6],

[6] DO C [...] de [...], p. [...].

De conformidad con el procedimiento establecido en el artículo 251 del Tratado [7],

[7] DO C [...] de [...], p. [...].

Considerando lo siguiente:

(1) Mediante la Decisión 2001/51/CE, el Consejo estableció el programa relativo a una estrategia marco comunitaria sobre la igualdad entre mujeres y hombres a fin de promover una mejor comprensión de las cuestiones relacionadas con la igualdad, potenciar y difundir los valores y las prácticas que subyacen a la igualdad y desarrollar la capacidad de los interesados de fomentar eficazmente la igualdad.

(2) A través de la Decisión nº 848/2004/CE, el Parlamento Europeo y el Consejo establecieron el programa de acción comunitario para la promoción de las organizaciones que trabajan a escala europea en el ámbito de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres con objeto de respaldar las actividades de dichas organizaciones, de las cuales tanto un programa de trabajo continuo como determinadas medidas específicas redundan en beneficio del interés europeo general en el campo de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres o van en pos de un objetivo que forma parte de la política comunitaria en este ámbito.

(3) Ambos programas expiran el 31 de diciembre de 2005. Es esencial garantizar la continuidad de la política comunitaria para la promoción de la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres considerando los objetivos consagrados en el artículo 13 del Tratado.

(4) Es necesario prorrogar los programas durante un año de periodo transitorio hasta el establecimiento de un nuevo programa marco plurianual sobre la financiación de acciones en los ámbitos social y de empleo correspondiente al periodo 2007-2013 que incluya un capítulo sobre la igualdad entre hombres y mujeres.

(5) La Decisión 2001/51/CE del Consejo, por la que se establece un programa de acción comunitaria sobre la estrategia comunitaria en materia de igualdad entre mujeres y hombres, está basada en el artículo 13 del Tratado. No obstante, a raíz de las modificaciones introducidas por el Tratado de Niza, el apartado 2 del artículo 13 constituye el fundamento jurídico específico para la adopción de medidas comunitarias incentivadoras cuyo objeto sea contribuir a la lucha contra la discriminación. Por tanto, es conveniente basar la modificación de la Decisión 2001/51/CE en el apartado 2 del artículo 13.

HAN ADOPTADO LA PRESENTE DECISIÓN:

Artículo 1

La Decisión 2001/51/CE quedará modificada como sigue:

1. En el artículo 1, la fecha de «31 de diciembre de 2005» se sustituirá por la de «31 de diciembre de 2006».

2. En el apartado 1 del artículo 11, el importe de 50 millones de euros correspondiente a la referencia financiera se sustituirá por 61,5 millones de euros.

Artículo 2

La Decisión n° 848/2004/CE quedará modificada como sigue:

1. En el apartado 3 del artículo 1, la fecha de «31 de diciembre de 2005» se sustituirá por la de «31 de diciembre de 2006».

2. En el apartado 1 del artículo 6, el importe de 2,2 millones de euros correspondiente a la referencia financiera se sustituirá por 3,3 millones de euros.

Artículo 3

La presente Decisión entrará en vigor el día de su publicación en el Diario Oficial de la Unión Europea.

Artículo 4

Los destinatarios de la presente Decisión serán los Estados miembros.

Hecho en Bruselas, el [...]

Por el Parlamento Europeo Por el Consejo

El Presidente El Presidente

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): Employment and Social Affairs - Equality for men and women

Activit(y/ies): Support for the promotion of gender equality

Title of action:

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

amending Council Decision 2001/51/EC establishing a Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality and Decision No 848/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women

Amendment to Council Decision 2001/51/EC

1. BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

Articles 04.0502 and 04.010405

2. OVERALL FIGURES

2.1. Total allocation for action (Part B): EUR million for commitment

EUR 11.5 million for commitment

This amount represents the budgetary impact of the proposal to extend the programme, which is due to end on 31 December 2005, for the additional year concerned, 2006. It is roughly equivalent to the budget for the year 2005.

2.2. Period of application:

1 January 2006-31 December 2006

2.3. Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

(a) Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention) (see point 6.1.1)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

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(b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure(see point 6.1.2)

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(see points 7.2 and 7.3)

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2.4. Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective:

X Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the financial perspective.

Proposal may require application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.

2.5. Financial impact on revenue: [8]

[8] For further information, see separate explanatory note.

X Proposal has no financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure)

Proposal has financial impact - the effect on revenue is as follows:

(NB All details and observations relating to the method of calculating the effect on revenue should be shown in a separate annex.)

(EUR million to one decimal place)

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(Please specify each budget line involved, adding the appropriate number of rows to the table if there is an effect on more than one budget line.)

3. BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

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4. LEGAL BASIS

Article 13 (2) EC Treaty

5. DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

5.1. Need for Community intervention

5.1.1. Objectives pursued

The objective of the prolongation is to ensure the continuation of the Community Action Programme on gender equality during the year 2006. The present programme will expire on 31 December 2005. The prolongation is deemed necessary to guarantee continuity of Community action in a transitional period characterised by important institutional changes until the adoption of a new comprehensive multiannual Framework Programme on the financing of actions in the employment and social field, including gender equality.

The objective of the Decision remains unchanged: to support and supplement efforts to promote gender equality including complementing legislative developments by:

- promoting and disseminating the values and practices underlying gender equality;

- improving the understanding of issues related to direct and indirect gender discrimination based on sex through improved knowledge and measurement and through the evaluation of the effectiveness of policies and practices; and

- developing the capacity of target players to promote gender equality.

5.1.2. Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

This programme is the prolongation of the 5th Programme relating to the Community framework strategy on gender equality (2001-2005). An external ongoing evaluation started at the beginning of 2003 and will end in December 2006. The executive summary of the interim evaluation will be available on .

The Commission has drawn up an interim evaluation report based on the external evaluation available that will be made public soon. As explained in the interim evaluation report, the Action Programme has been designed to support the implementation of the Framework Strategy on gender equality with three main objectives, raising awareness, improving analysis and evaluation and developing capacity of players to promote gender equality. Results from the first three years show that the funded activities meet the objectives. Furthermore activities designed to raise awareness will in the process build up capacity - and vice versa - and both kinds of action either rely on or can be expected to promote policy analysis. This makes the classification of the eligible activities into the three strands somewhat artificial, as noted by the external evaluators.

The programme has an important role to play in supporting policy cooperation at European level. The broad formulation of the main objectives of each strand allows the funding of a wide range of projects with different durations, types of users and objectives to respond to the variety of objectives defined in the Framework Strategy on gender equality. Valuable direct contributions have been made by activities funded under strand 2 (such as expert networks and statistical work) and strand 1 (such as the Council Presidency and the Commission's conferences). The transnational projects run by national authorities have contributed to reinforcing synergy between national policies on gender equality.

On the other hand, the contribution of transnational projects subsidised under strand 3 is less apparent. Many projects deal with the development of methods and tools for which it is still too early to assess their impact. This will require further investigation in the course of the external evaluation.

5.1.3. Measures taken following evaluation

In the light of the preliminary findings of the interim evaluation, the Commission intends to develop more systematic information on the outputs of the Programme and its various activities. It is important to improve the synergy between the three strands by encouraging the flow of information and knowledge between the various activities.

For this purpose a regularly updated Commission website should be the major source of information and this message should be clearly passed to all project promoters. The comparable statistics developed by EUROSTAT in cooperation with the Member States, the studies conducted by the expert networks, the Commission's assessment of National Action Plans for Employment and social inclusion are all accessible from the Commission website. European conferences are also an opportunity to make the Programme's outputs better known.

Finally, it should be borne in mind that the fundamental raison d'être of such a Programme is its European added value. The Programme has to contribute to the development and the implementation of EU law concerning gender equality and to the promotion of the gender dimension in EU policies. This should be further analysed in the course of the external evaluation. In the context of the enlarged European Union, the Commission will pay attention to keeping all activities funded by the Programme in line with this fundamental requirement.

5.2. Action envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

Three sub-objectives have been identified to which correspond three major strands for actions under this Programme which run concurrently:

- promoting and disseminating values and practices underlying gender equality;

- improving the understanding of issues related to direct and indirect discrimination based on sex through improved knowledge and measurement and through the evaluation of the effectiveness of policies and practices;

- developing the capacity of target players to promote gender equality.

The Programme will work with a variety of target players selected from among policymakers in national, regional and local administrations, independent bodies responsible for the promotion of gender equality, non-governmental organisations, social partners, research institutes, the media, opinion-formers, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.

The lessons of past programmes suggest that maximum added-value is obtained when programmes concentrate on a limited number of high-quality, large-scale coordinated activities where the emphasis is on supporting Member States' efforts to promote change at national, regional and local levels. This involves Member States' governments, local and regional authorities, social partners, grass-root NGOs, independent experts and academics.

The three strands will continue to operate as in the first five years as follows:

* Awareness-raising (Strand 1)

This strand aims at disseminating the lessons of the Programme and adding to the momentum needed for the acceptance of change in society. It will contribute to creating the political conditions necessary for legislative or other developments.

With the aim of supporting and improving the synergy between national policies on gender equality and also to develop a Community added value, this strand will support the implementation of initiatives, to be developed by the Member States authorities, on particular topics approved annually, after discussion with the Programme Committee.

It includes classical information and communication tools and targeted visibility/awareness-raising events or campaigns.

* Analysis and evaluation (Strand 2)

This strand aims at developing and improving various tools for collecting information, putting it into a useable and comparable form and ensuring its dissemination to the target players in the Member States. This will build on work carried out during the previous equality programmes.

The Programme should assist players in the different Member States to learn from the experience of others, with the objective of improving the effectiveness of their efforts to promote gender equality. Information about what is happening in the Member States needs therefore to be made available in a form which is readily accessible and which will be used by the players.

* Capacity building (Strand 3)

This strand aims at adding value to the capacity of players to address gender equality effectively. This is achieved by disseminating to these players good practices and lessons from experience and involving them in a process of transnational exchange and dialogue at EU level.

Past experience related to the grounds for combating gender discrimination has underlined the importance of working in partnership with target players in the Member States and with organisations working in the field of gender equality. Previous Community action in the field of equal opportunities between women and men and initiatives in the fields of disability and social inclusion have shown the value of bringing players together in transnational partnerships which can form the basis for the exchange of good practice.

5.3. Methods of implementation

The delivery mechanisms stipulated in the proposal are in keeping with to the classic Community approach to grants and co-funding on the basis of a detailed financial request. The actions to be taken may be funded by service contracts following open calls for tender or restricted calls for proposals addressed to the Member States or by subsidies for joint financing with other sources. In the latter case, the level of financial assistance from the Commission may not exceed, as a general rule, 80% of the expenditure actually incurred by the recipient. The Programme is managed centrally by the Commission.

The programme budget may also cover expenditure associated with preparation, follow-up, monitoring, auditing and evaluation activities directly necessary for the management of the programme and for the realisation of its objectives, such as studies, meetings, information and publication activities, expenditure associated with IT networks for the exchange of information and any other administrative and technical support expenditure on which the Commission may decide for the management of the programme.

6. FINANCIAL IMPACT

6.1. Total financial impact on Part B (over the entire programming period)

(The method of calculating the total amounts set out in the table below must be explained by the breakdown in Table 6.2. )

6.1.1. Financial intervention

Commitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)

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6.1.2. Technical and administrative assistance, support expenditure and IT expenditure (commitment appropriations)

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6.2. Calculation of costs by measure envisaged in Part B (over the entire programming period) [9]

[9] For further information, see separate explanatory note.

(Where there is more than one action, give sufficient detail of the specific measures to be taken for each one to allow the volume and costs of the outputs to be estimated.)

Commitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)

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If necessary explain the method of calculation

7. IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

7.1. Impact on human resources

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7.2. Overall financial impact of human resources

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The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

7.3. Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action

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The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

I. Annual total (7.2 + 7.3) // EUR 1.636.240

II. Duration of action // 1 year

III. Total cost of action (I x II) // EUR 1.636.240

The needs for human and administrative resources shall be covered within the allocation granted to the managing Directorate General in the framework of the annual allocation procedure.

8. FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

8.1. Follow-up arrangements

The prolongation will continue to be implemented along the same lines as the Programme in its first five years. Implementation will involve participation in selection panels of calls for proposals, monitoring of ongoing contracts and financial control of all transactions between the Commission and the beneficiaries.

8.2. Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

The Programme will be monitored throughout its operation. The Programme Committee will receive regular information prepared by the Commission. The monitoring will be adapted according to the needs of each of the strands and will include aspects of both quality assurance and financial regularity.

In addition, the Programme is subject to an interim report on its implementation which is currently in the process of adoption / has been adopted by the Commission on ... [10]. The ongoing evaluation will continue to provide the Commission with regular evaluation findings until the final report on the implementation of the Framework Strategy and this Programme which will be drawn up by 31 December 2006. The Commission was and will be assisted by external evaluators for both reports.

[10] SEC (2004) ... (to be inserted)..

9. ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

All the measures funded are subject to ex ante, in itinere and ex post analysis by the responsible departments as regards content quality and cost-effectiveness. The grant application forms will require information on the identity and nature of potential beneficiaries so that their reliability can be assessed in advance. Fraud prevention measures (checks, reports) are included in the agreements or contracts between the Commission and beneficiaries. The Commission will check reports and ensure that work has been properly carried out before intermediate and/or final payments are made. Special attention will be made in order to avoid double funding. In addition, controls by the Commission or the Court of Auditors of the European Communities may be carried out on the basis of documents or on the spot.

LEGISLATIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENT

Policy area(s): Employment and Social Affairs - Equality for men and women

Activit(y/ies): Support for the promotion of gender equality

Title of action:

DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

Amendment to Council Decision No 848/2004/EC

1. BUDGET LINE(S) + HEADING(S)

A-3037 (No ABB 040503) and A-3046 (No ABB 040501)

2. OVERALL FIGURES

2.1. Total allocation for action (Part B): EUR million for commitment:

1.1 EUR million for commitment

2.2. Period of application:

1 January 2006-31 December 2006

2.3. Overall multiannual estimate of expenditure:

(a) Schedule of commitment appropriations/payment appropriations (financial intervention) (see point 6.1.1)

EUR million (to three decimal places)

>SITIO PARA UN CUADRO>

(b) Technical and administrative assistance and support expenditure(see point 6.1.2)

>SITIO PARA UN CUADRO>

(see points 7.2 and 7.3)

>SITIO PARA UN CUADRO>

2.4. Compatibility with financial programming and financial perspective

X Proposal is compatible with existing financial programming.

Proposal will entail reprogramming of the relevant heading in the financial perspective.

Proposal may require application of the provisions of the Interinstitutional Agreement.

2.5. Financial impact on revenue: [11]

[11] For further information, see separate explanatory note.

X Proposal has no financial implications (involves technical aspects regarding implementation of a measure)

Proposal has financial impact - the effect on revenue is as follows:

(NB All details and observations relating to the method of calculating the effect on revenue should be shown in a separate annex.)

(EUR million to one decimal place)

>SITIO PARA UN CUADRO>

(Please specify each budget line involved, adding the appropriate number of rows to the table if there is an effect on more than one budget line.)

3. BUDGET CHARACTERISTICS

>SITIO PARA UN CUADRO>

4. LEGAL BASIS

Article 13(2) EC Treaty

5. DESCRIPTION AND GROUNDS

5.1. Need for Community intervention

5.1.1. Objectives pursued

The objective of the prolongation is to ensure the continuation of the Community Action Programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between women and men. The present programme will expire on 31 December 2005. The prolongation is deemed necessary to guarantee continuity of Community action in a transitional period characterised by important institutional changes (enlargement of the Union, a new European Parliament and a new Commission) until the adoption of a new comprehensive multiannual Framework Programme on the financing of actions in the employment and social field including gender equality.

The objective of the Decision remains unchanged: to support the activities of organisations active at European level in the field of equality for women and men, of which an ongoing programme of work or a specific action serves the general European interest the field of equality for women and men or pursues an objective which is part of the European Union's policy in this area.

5.1.2. Measures taken in connection with ex ante evaluation

The Programme which it is proposed to extend is a new one aimed at providing a legal basis for awarding grants to organisations active at European level in the field of equality for men and women for the years 2004 and 2005. Its adoption was made necessary by the new structure of the Commission's budget under the new Financial Regulation with effect from 2004.

5.1.3. Measures taken following ex post evaluation

The activities of the European Women's Lobby have in the past been subject to several annual evaluations by the Commission's departments. In addition, an audit report was drawn up in 1999 at the European Parliament's request. These results have shown that the Lobby's activities have an effective, significant impact, in particular by informing women of their rights, and that it has a substantial influence on policymakers at European, national, regional and local level with regard to the promotion of gender equality.

A report presenting the results obtained by the beneficiaries is scheduled for December 2006, in particular with a view to assessing its effectiveness as regards the achievement of its objectives.

5.2. Action envisaged and budget intervention arrangements

In the context of the Amsterdam Treaty, gender mainstreaming has been firmly anchored in Article 3. In parallel to gender mainstreaming, specific actions in favour of women have proved to be essential in order to eliminate persistent inequalities. The activities of certain organisations help to promote gender equality. The European Women's Lobby in particular, which is present in almost all Member States and has over 3000 members, plays a major role in promoting, monitoring and disseminating Community measures aimed at women with a view to achieving equality between women and men.

The general objective of the Programme is to reinforce Community action in the field of equality between men and women and the effectiveness of such action by offering financial support to organisations active at European level in the field of equality between women and men, including the European Women's Lobby.

The activities carried out by organisations which are eligible to receive a Community grant under the Programme will come under one of the following strands:

Strand 1: ongoing activities of the European Women's Lobby, whose members are, inter alia, women's organisations in the Member States of the European Union, subject to observance of the following principles:

- it must be free to select its members,

- it must be free to pursue its activities.

Strand 2: ongoing activities of an organisation pursuing an objective of general European interest in the field of gender equality or an objective forming part of the European Union's policy in this area. This applies to a non-profit-making body carrying out its activities exclusively in order to achieve equality between women and men or an organisation with a wider aim which carries out part of its activities exclusively to promote equality between women and men. An annual operating grant may be awarded to support the implementation of such an organisation's ongoing programme of work.

Strand 3: specific actions of an organisation pursuing an objective of general European interest in the field of equality between women and men or an objective forming part of the European Union's policy in this area.

5.3. Methods of implementation

The delivery mechanisms stipulated in the proposal are in keeping with the classic Community approach to grants and co-funding on the basis of a detailed financial request. The actions to be taken may be funded by subsidies for joint financing with other sources. In this case, the level of financial assistance from the Commission may not exceed, as a general rule, 80% of the expenditure actually incurred by the recipient. The Programme is managed centrally by the Commission

6. FINANCIAL IMPACT

6.1. Total financial impact on Part B (over the entire programming period)

(The method of calculating the total amounts set out in the table below must be explained by the breakdown in Table 6.2. )

6.1.1. Financial intervention

Commitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)

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6.1.2. Technical and administrative assistance, support expenditure and IT expenditure (commitment appropriations)

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6.2. Calculation of costs by measure envisaged in Part B (over the entire programming period) [12]

[12] For further information, see separate explanatory note.

(Where there is more than one action, give sufficient detail of the specific measures to be taken for each one to allow the volume and costs of the outputs to be estimated.)

Commitments (in EUR million to three decimal places)

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If necessary, explain the method of calculation

7. IMPACT ON STAFF AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENDITURE

7.1. Impact on human resources

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* Existing resources

7.2. Overall financial impact of human resources

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The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

7.3. Other administrative expenditure deriving from the action

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The amounts are total expenditure for twelve months.

1 Specify the type of committee and the group to which it belongs.

I. Annual total (7.2 + 7.3) // EUR 36.000

II. Duration of action // 1 year

III. Total cost of action (I x II) // EUR 36.000

The needs for human and administrative resources shall be covered within the allocation granted to the managing Directorate General in the framework of the annual allocation procedure.

8. FOLLOW-UP AND EVALUATION

8.1. Follow-up arrangements

The prolongation will continue to be implemented along the same lines as the Programme in its first two years. Implementation will involve participation in selection panels of calls for proposals, monitoring of ongoing contracts and financial control of all transactions between the Commission and the beneficiaries.

8.2. Arrangements and schedule for the planned evaluation

Given that this Programme is designed to promote gender equality, the functions of monitoring and evaluation naturally form part of the activities implemented, in such a way as to derive maximum benefit from them.

The Programme is subject to the submission of a report by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the achievement of its objectives. This report shall be based on the results obtained by the beneficiaries and shall assess, in particular, their effectiveness in achieving the said objectives.

9. ANTI-FRAUD MEASURES

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