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Promotion of organisations active in the field of equality between men and women (2004-2006)

The European Union is implementing a Community action programme to grant financial support to organisations active on a European level in the field of equality between men and women.

ACT

Decision No 848/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004, establishing a Community action programme to promote organisations active at European level in the field of equality between men and women [See amending acts ].

SUMMARY

The proposal is based on Article 13 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, which confers on the Council the power to take appropriate action to combat all discrimination, including discrimination based on sex.

Objective

The proposed programme constitutes a basic instrument of financial support for the activities of organisations whose actions serve the general European interest in the field of equality between men and women.

Beneficiary organisations

To be eligible for a grant, organisations must participate in Community action in the area of equality between women and men, comply with the principles and legal provisions governing such Community action, and have transnational potential. Moreover, organisations must have been legally established for at least one year. They may act alone or as part of various coordinated associations. Selection is based on calls for proposals.

In view of its leading role in promoting, monitoring and disseminating Community measures aimed at women, the European Women's Lobby is named in the programme and is thus awarded an operational grant directly.

The proposal covers a wide geographical area. Beneficiary organisations may be established in the Member States or candidate countries, provided the latter have established a Memorandum of Understanding.

Financial aspects

The proposed programme stipulates that the operational grant awarded cannot represent more than 80% of the organisation's total eligible expenditure for the calendar year for which the grant is awarded.

The programme will run from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2005. The financial framework provided for by the proposal to cover this period amounts to EUR 3.3 million.

Transitional clauses introduced on an exceptional basis state that, for grants awarded in 2004, the period of eligibility may start on 1 January 2004, subject to certain conditions.

Context

The Commission's White Paper on Governance [(COM)2001 0428 final] advocates the participation and involvement of citizens of civil society and civil society organisations in the shaping and implementation of policies.

Council Regulation (Financial Regulation) (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 requires the adoption of a basic instrument for existing support measures for organisations working in the field of promoting gender equality. The European Union is therefore proposing to adopt a structured programme geared towards granting financial support to these organisations.

References

Act

Entry into force

Deadline for transposition in the Member States

Official Journal

Decision 848/2004/EC

01.05.2004

-

OJ L 157 of 30.4.2004

Amending act(s)

Entry into force

Deadline for transposition in the Member States

Official Journal

Decision 1554/2005/EC

30.09.2005

-

OJ L 255 of 30.09.2005

Last updated: 16.01.2006

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