(2004/C 88 E/0488)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3859/03

by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject:   Funding of small Tacis Programme projects

Having regard to the fact that the percentage share of funding allocated to small projects under the Tacis programme increased by 15 % in 2002, could the Commission state how many small projects received funding, and what amounts of money were involved? Was the successful outcome of the projects verified?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2004)

The Commission understands that the Honourable Member is referring to the two principal types of ‘small projects’ which exist under Tacis, namely the Tacis Cross-Border Co-operation (CBC) Programme Small Project Facility and the Civil Society component of the Institution-Building Partnership Programme. With reference to the Tacis Cross-Border Co-operation Programme Small Project Facility, an allocation of EUR 6,7 million was made under the Tacis CBC Action Programme 2002. This resulted in a total number of 32 small projects being recommended for funding and contracted. In addition, 12 micro projects (less than EUR 50 000 each) were also contracted. The last evaluation round for the micro-project component has recently been completed. The contracts for the micro-projects selected will be concluded in the coming weeks.

As regards the Institution-Building Partnership Programme, the total amount allocated to the envelope for Support to Civil Society and Local Initiatives under AP 2002 was EUR 11,7 million. A total of 62 projects were recommended for funding and 61 were contracted by December 2003.

In both cases, the first projects began only recently, hence it is too early to assess the outcome at this stage. Projects will be subject to monitoring and supervision by the Delegations.