(2)

the following Article is inserted: ‘Article 17a Main ACP banana-supplying countries 1. The ACP banana-supplying countries listed in Annex IIIa shall benefit from the banana accompanying measures programme (BAM programme). (a) General objectives: Union assistance shall aim at: (i) supporting the adjustment process following liberalisation of the Union market for bananas in the framework of the WTO; (ii) combating poverty by improving the living standards and conditions of farmers and persons concerned. (b) General priorities: Union assistance shall take into account the countries' policies and adaptation strategies, as well as their regional environment (in terms of proximity to outermost regions of the Union and overseas countries and territories) and shall focus on one or more of the following areas of cooperation: (i) addressing broader impacts generated by the adaptation process, particularly in local communities and the most vulnerable groups therein, related but not restricted to employment and social services, land use and environmental restoration; (ii) promoting the economic diversification of banana-dependent areas, where such a strategy is viable; (iii) enhancing the competitiveness of the banana export sector, where this is sustainable, taking into account the situation of different stakeholders in the chain. Programmes shall promote compliance with labour and safety standards, as well as environmental standards, including the use of and exposure to pesticides. (c) General expected results: The results of the assistance shall be in line with the objectives as set out in point (a) of this paragraph. In particular, and in cooperation with the beneficiary countries, Union assistance shall pursue results to be achieved in social, environmental and economic areas. 2. Within the amount referred to in Annex IV, the Commission shall fix the maximum indicative amount available to each eligible ACP banana-supplying country referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article on the basis of the following criteria: (a) level of trade in bananas with the Union, whereby higher Union imports from the ACP country concerned will reflect positively on the allocation. This criterion is based on the size of the banana export sector to the Union in the different countries. The average of the three highest annual tonnages of bananas imported by the Union from each eligible beneficiary country over the last five years preceding 2010 will be taken into account; (b) importance of banana exports to the Union in the economy, whereby higher levels of importance in the ACP country concerned will reflect positively on the allocation. This criterion will be measured by taking the value of Union banana imports from each eligible beneficiary country as a percentage of the country’s gross national income (GNI) over the last three years preceding 2010 for which data are available; (c) level of development, whereby lower levels of development as recorded in the UN’s human development index (HDI) in the ACP country concerned will reflect positively on the allocation. This criterion will be measured by the average HDI over the period 2005-2007, for which the same methodology was used by the UN. The measurement of the allocation criteria shall be based on representative data preceding 2011 and covering a period not longer than five years. The indicative country allocations will take account in the same way of the three criteria across all eligible beneficiary countries. On the basis of the application of the criteria referred to above, the Commission will inform the European Parliament and Council about the intended use of the indicative financial allocation referred to in Annex IV before the adoption of the multiannual support strategies mentioned in paragraph 3 of this Article. That information will set out, for each eligible ACP banana-supplying country, the indicative amount available. 3. The Commission shall adopt multiannual support strategies by analogy to Article 19, and in accordance with Article 21. It shall ensure that such strategies complement the geographic strategy papers of the countries concerned, and the temporary nature of the banana accompanying measures. The multiannual support strategies for banana accompanying measures shall include: (a) an updated environmental profile paying due attention to the country’s banana sector, inter alia, focusing on pesticides; (b) information on the achievements of past banana support programmes; (c) indicators to assess progress in relation to disbursement conditions, when budget support will be chosen as the form of financing; (d) the expected results of the assistance; (e) a time schedule of support activities and of expected disbursements; (f) the ways in which progress will be achieved and monitored in meeting internationally agreed ILO core labour standards and appropriate occupational safety and health conventions as well as relevant internationally agreed core environmental standards. In the framework of the multiannual financial framework for 2007-2013, established by Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission in budgetary discipline and sound financial management (7), the BAM programme and the progress made by the countries concerned shall be the subject of an assessment, which shall include recommendations on any measures to be taken and the nature thereof.