91998E0145

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0145/98 by Kenneth Coates (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (2 February 1998)

Subject: Anti-poverty programmes

In 1996, the United Kingdom brought before the European Court of Justice a legal action concerning funding for the Commission's anti-poverty and other social programmes to help excluded groups.

What effect is this having on the Commission's work in the social sphere and on the non-governmental organizations which engage in it? How are programmes for the elderly and the disabled affected?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (6 April 1998)

The action (C-239/96R) which the United Kingdom filed against the Commission challenges the legality of certain spending on budget line B3-4103.

On 24 September 1996, the President of the Court of Justice granted interim relief to the United Kingdom, which allowed for commitments to be made but required payments to be frozen until the judgment. Following that interim order of the President of the Court, applications for funding were evaluated and the selection of projects deserving support was concluded. Successful applicants were informed of the conditions fixed by the Court of Justice and invited to sign an agreement on those conditions. No payments have yet been made pursuant to any of these agreements, since the Court has not yet delivered its final judgment. Having regard to this uncertain situation, most applicants have delayed implementation of the projects concerned.

As a result of the pending Court of justice case, no new commitment credits were allocated to the concerned budget line during 1997. The budget line concerning the elderly, although affected by a similar Court case, did receive fresh commitment credits in 1997 which have also been allocated conditionally until the final judgement is known. No other budget lines are affected.