Combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children: 2nd phase of the programme Stop II

PURPOSE: to present a Commission proposal for a Council decision establishing a second phase of the programme of incentives, exchanges, training and cooperation for persons responsible for combating trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children (Stop II). CONTENT: The Stop programme, one of three of the multiannual financing programmes adopted through Joint Actions on the basis of Aticle K.3 of the Treaty on European Union, will expire on 31.12.2000. Stop II - its successor - will develop initiatives to combat the trade in human beings and the sexual exploitation of children, including child pornography and the violence associated with it and to help the victims of these criminal activities. The current proposal seeks to renew the Stop programme from 01.01.2001 to 31.12.2002 and may be extended beyond the latter date. Against this backgrond, the objectives of Stop II are the following: - develop, implement and evaluate a European policy in this field; - encourage and strengthen networking and practical cooperation such as the exchange and dissemination of information, experience and good practice, and the improvement and adaptation of training and scientific and technical research; - give particular attention to participation in the projects developed by this programme to the public or private organisations, institutions or associations concerned in the applicant countries; - encourage the stepping up of cooperation with third countries and the competent regional and international organisations. Furthermore, the main provisions of the programme relate to access to the programme, activities, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. With regard to finance, the annual appropriations shall be authorised by the budgetary authority within the limits of the financial perspective. The proportion of financial support from the Community budget shall not exceed 70% of the cost of the project and in certain cases, specific projects and complementary measures can be financed to 100%, up to a ceiling of 10% of the total financial package allocated annually to the programme for each of the two categories. In additon, the financial reference amount for the implementation of the programme for the period 2001 to 2002 shall be EUR 4 million. Finally, with regard to evaluation, the Commission shall undertake each year an evaluation of the actions carried out in implementing the programe for the previous year. The Commission shall also report to the European Parliament and the Council each year on the implementation of the programme. The first report shall be presented before 31.07.2000. �