EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 294/19

Wednesday 9 July 2008

Annual Action Programmes for Brazil for 2008 and for Argentina for 2008

P6_TA(2008)0338

European Parliament resolution of 9 July 2008 on the draft Commission decisions establishing Annual Action Programmes for Brazil for 2008 and for Argentina for 2008

2009/C 294 E/04

The European Parliament,

having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation (1),

having regard to the draft Commission decisions establishing Annual Action Programmes for Brazil and for Argentina for 2008 (CMTD-2008-0263 — D000422-01, CMTD-2008-0263 — D000421-01),

having regard to the opinion delivered on 10 June 2008 by the committee referred to in Article 35(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 (‘the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) Management Committee’),

having regard to Article 8 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (2),

having regard to the Agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission of 3 June 2008 on procedures for implementing Council Decision 1999/468/EC laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC (3),

having regard to Rule 81 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas, on 10 June 2008, the DCI Management Committee voted in favour of the draft Annual Action Programmes (AAPs) for Brazil for 2008 and for Argentina for 2008 (CMTD-2008-0263 — D000422-01, CMTD-2008-0263 — D000421-01),

B. whereas, pursuant to Article 7(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC and Article 1 of the abovementioned Agreement of 3 June 2008, Parliament received the draft implementing measures submitted to the DCI Management Committee and the results of voting,

C. whereas Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 stipulates that ‘the primary and overarching objective of cooperation under this Regulation shall be the eradication of poverty in partner countries and regions in the context of sustainable development’,

D. whereas Article 2(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 stipulates that ‘measures referred to in Article 1(1) (4) shall be designed so as to fulfil the criteria for Official Development Assistance (ODA) established by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD/DAC)’,

E. whereas, in its Reporting Directives for the Creditor Reporting System (DCD/DAC (2002)21), the OECD/DAC defines ODA as financial flows to countries on the DAC List of Aid Recipients for which, inter alia, ‘each transaction is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective’,

Brazil

1. Notes that the draft AAP for Brazil for 2008 contains the Academic Mobility Programme for Brazil 2008-2010 (which is the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window for Brazil) as the only action, that this action comes under the Country Strategy Paper's priority sector I entitled ‘Enhancing bilateral relations, Action 2: Higher education programme for Brazil’ and that the financing for mobility of EU national students and academic staff (up to 30 % of the total funding for individual mobility for students and staff) is provided for as an important element of the AAP for Brazil for 2008;

Argentina

2. Notes that the draft AAP for Argentina for 2008 contains the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window for Argentina as the only action, that this action comes under the Country Strategy Paper's focal sector entitled ‘Strengthening of bilateral relations and mutual understanding between the EC and Argentina’ and that the financing of mobility of EU national students and academic staff (up to 30 % of the total funding for individual mobility for students and staff) is provided for as an important element of the AAP for Argentina for 2008;

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3. Takes the view that the Commission, therewith, exceeds, in the AAP for Brazil for 2008 and in the AAP for Argentina for 2008, its implementing powers laid down in the basic act, given that the abovementioned elements are not in compliance with Article 2(1) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006, as the primary objective of these elements is not the eradication of poverty, and as these elements do not fulfil the criteria for ODA established by the OECD/DAC (5);

4. Calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft decisions establishing AAPs for Brazil for 2008 and for Argentina for 2008 and to submit to the DCI Management Committee new draft decisions fully respecting the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006;

5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.

(1) OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p. 41.

(2) OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.

(3) OJ C 143, 10.6.2008, p. 1.

(4) Article 1(1): ‘The Community shall finance measures aimed at supporting cooperation with developing countries, territories and regions (…).’.

(5) Namely, that ‘each transaction is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective’ (OECD/DAC Fact Sheet of October 2006, ‘Is it ODA?’, p. 1).