MARIE PANAYOTOPOULOS CASSIOTOU MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: PREVENT/COMBAT VIOLENCE

22/05/2007: The report on the Daphne III Programme has been approved by the vast majority of the European Parliament. This programme aims on one hand at combating violence and the prevention of violence against women, children and young persons and on the other hand at the protection of victims who belong to these sensitive social groups, through the creation of cross-border networks, the support of NGOs and the exchange of best practices.

The financing of this new programme is spectacularly higher than the previous programmes (€116.85m compared to €50m), which is why expectations are so high. The aim is to consolidate freedom, safety and justice within the European space and to confront phenomena, like violence and white slavery, which after the enlargement of the EU are more common. "The wide financing will add value to the action of previous successful DAPHNE Programmes, but also in other initiatives of Member States for the prevention of violent behaviour and the support of the victims", said the shadow rapporteur, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou (EPP-ED, GR).

Commenting on the application of the programme, Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou stressed:

the need for organised action in the field of education and the sensitisation of social conscience towards the fight against every form of violence;
transparency at the evaluation and selection of plans of action and the financing of Networks and NGOs and;
connection with other European programmes which aim at social cohesion and integration, such as the PROGRESS Programme, or strategies for the protection of fundamental rights, such as the future Strategy for the Rights of the Child.

The DAPHNE III Programme, for which the Committee on Women's Rights of the EP unanimously asked for and achieved it's separation from the Programme of Prevention of Drugs, is the continuation of the successful DAPHNE I and DAPHNE II Programmes which began in 1997 and 2000 respectively. DAPHNE, since it began, has financed 420 programmes, most of which contributed to the modification of national legislation, encouraged the role of NGOs and the collaboration between all the interested parties such as the citizens and the national and local authorities. The success of the DAPHNE Programme lies in approaching the term 'violence' in its widest sense including not only corporal and psychological dimensions, but also sexual.

Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou expressed the wish that the progress in the fight against violence be so fast that violence will soon be a thing of the past in the EU and we will only have to conquer it at international level.

For further information:
Marie Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847447, Fax: +32-2-2849447
Email: marie.panayotopoulos-cassiotou@europarl.europa.eu

05/09/2006: The European Parliament adopted today the report of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality on the DAPHNE III programme. The new Programme, which was developed within the framework of the general programme " Fundamental Rights and Justice", will run from 2007 until 2013. It aims, on the one hand, to prevent and combat violence against women, children and young people and on the other, to protect the victims through the establishment of effective trans-national networks, provision of support for the activities of NGOs and the exchange of best practices and experiences.

The DAPHNE III Programme, which the Commission agreed to separate from the Programme on Drugs, as a result of pressure from the Women's Rights Committee, continues the action undertaken under the DAPHNE I and DAPHNE II programmes which resumed respectively in 1997 and 2004, with great success. Since 1997, the Programme has financed 420 projects, a great percentage of which have contributed to a modification of national legislation, the strengthening of the role of NGOs and the establishment of a close collaboration between all interested parties (local authorities, civil society etc). The success of the Programme relies on its broad and integrated approach to violence, which includes physical, psychological and sexual dimensions at a European level.

The new programme doesn't deliver any important innovations, apart from the great increase in the budget which amounts to 116.85 million euros instead of 50 million previously. The increased funding is aimed at tackling the challenges resulting from the enlargement of the EU, as far as trafficking and violence are concerned, and responding to the Commission's objective of creating a European area of freedom, security and justice. The EPP complies with the agreement on the financial perspectives.

During her intervention in plenary, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou stressed that the success of the Programme depends on good management and transparency in the use of the funds, correct implementation of the general objectives and the respect of the principle of subsidiarity. She asked that the programme take a threefold approach: prevention through information campaigns, addressing the cause of violence, treatment and care for the victims and adequate treatment of perpetrators. Mrs Panayotopoulos indicated that although she was very much in favour of such an initiative, she believes that the proposed Europe-wide helpline (SOS Children) should take the form of a hotline and not of a helpline.

The EPP voted in favour of the report on the DAPHNE III Programme, although it did not agree with the reference to specific categories of victims and objected on the further increase of the budget to 125 million euros which does not comply with the agreement on the financial perspectives.

The Greek MEP, expressed her satisfaction with the almost unanimous approval of her amendment which provides for a specific functioning grant for the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children (19 European Organizations), as well as the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children. This network aims at the protection of children's rights in Europe in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the exchange of information among European countries and the formulation of national policies for children.