Question for written answer E-005029/2011
to the Commission
Rule 117
Sophia in ’t Veld (ALDE) , Jean-Marie Cavada (PPE) , Joanna Senyszyn (S&D) , Raül Romeva i Rueda (Verts/ALE) , Michael Cashman (S&D) , Rui Tavares (GUE/NGL) , Renate Weber (ALDE) , Norbert Neuser (S&D) , Françoise Castex (S&D) , Cornelis de Jong (GUE/NGL) , Ulrike Lunacek (Verts/ALE) , Antonyia Parvanova (ALDE) , Sirpa Pietikäinen (PPE) and Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE)

On 4 May 2011, the Hungarian Junior Minister of Social Policy, Mr Miklos Soltesz, announced a nation-wide campaign: ‘Balance in the family + balance at work = balance in the world’. Part of this campaign will focus on discouraging abortion; this particular ad campaign shows a foetus and displays the slogan: ‘I understand if you are not ready for me … but please put me up for adoption, LET ME LIVE’[1].

In an official statement, the Hungarian Government declared that the awareness-raising campaigns are largely funded from the European Union's Progress fund[2]. Is the Commission aware of the fact that its Progress funds, designed to support the implementation of the European Union social agenda, are being used to finance an anti-abortion campaign? If so, can the Commission confirm that the grant is being given under the heading ‘improvement of gender mainstreaming in national policies and programmes (VP2010/009)’, and explain how this campaign supports the EU policy of promoting gender equality and non-discrimination?

If not, can the Commission explain how the procedure for supervising the implementation of the funds is structured?

• [1] http://blogs.wsj.com/emergingeurope/2011/05/05/hungary%E2%80%99s-government-to-launch-anti-abortion-campaign/?mod=google_news_blog
• [2] http://www.kormany.hu/hu/nemzeti-eroforras-miniszterium/szocialis-csaladi-es-ifjusagugyert-felelos-allamtitkarsag/hirek/eselyegyenloseg-a-csaladokert

OJ C 365 E, 15/12/2011