EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/669

(2004/C 88 E/0688)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4077/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 January 2004)

Subject: NGOs

What requirements does the Commission insist upon in order for an organisation to be recognised as an NGO of sufficient legitimacy for it to be granted EU funding to assist with humanitarian relief in particular circumstances?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2004)

Funding to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) called upon to provide relief assistance in natural or man-made humanitarian crises is granted by the Commission through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

To be entitled to ECHO funding, humanitarian NGOs must undergo a selection procedure which may lead to the signature of a Framework Partnership Agreement with ECHO. Such an agreement, which sets the principles of collaboration between ECHO and humanitarian organisations, defines the respective roles, rights and obligations and contains the legal provisions applicable to the humanitarian operations financed by ECHO, also sets out the requirements NGOs must fulfil in order to become and remain ECHO-partners, as well as the selection procedure applied by the Office in respect to NGOs.

The selection of partner-NGOs is based on well-defined eligibility and suitability criteria, some of which stem from the regulatory framework of the Commission and others arise from the need for introducing quality and accountability standards, as a result of the debate developed over the years within the civil society and between ECHO and its partners.

Concerning the legal eligibility and suitability requirements, the selection criteria are guided by three regulations: the Council Regulation on humanitarian aid (1), the Council Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (2) and its Implementing Rules (3).

In particular, the eligibility criteria take into account the NGO's country of registration (Article 7(1) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96), the moral integrity of the organisation (Article 93 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1605/2002) and the obligation to present financial statements audited by an external professional body (Article 173(4) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002). Proof of adhesion to a code of conduct stating the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence in the delivery of the aid is also requested. The suitability criteria take into account the NGO's administrative, operational and financial capacity (Article 7(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96), and in particular its experience and specialisation in the humanitarian field. Amongst others, the budget percentage devoted by the NGO to humanitarian aid activities and the use of minimum quality standards at different levels are examined.

Before a partnership agreement is concluded with an NGO, ECHO verifies that it fulfils the eligibility and suitability criteria through a range of means, which include information and documentation provided by the organisation, consultation with the relevant national authorities, as well as verification audits carried out by ECHO staff on the organisation's premises. Once admitted to partnership, NGOs are checked on an annual basis in order to verify that they keep complying with the eligibility requirements. Once admitted to funding, partner NGOs and individual ECHO-funded projects are audited by ECHO'S representatives on a regular basis, both at headquarters and in the field, usually no less than once a year.

All the details of the selection procedure applied by ECHO to NGOs are published on the Office's website (4). The text of the Framework Partnership Agreement is also available on the web; the requirements to be fulfilled by NGOs are referred to in Title II, articles 6-14 of the Provisions.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid, OJ L 163, 2.7.1996.

(2) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(3) Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 357, 31.12.2002.

(4) http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/humanitarian_aid/index_en.htm