WRITTEN QUESTION E-0514/01

by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission

(22 February 2001)

Subject: Declaration of state of emergency and serious situation in Ecuador

The economic austerity policy pursued by the Ecuadorian Government in an attempt to resolve the grave economic crisis that has been affecting the country for more than three years has been accompanied by serious social unrest. In addition to the emigration of a large section of the working population prompted by poverty, there has also been increasing mobilisation and protest on the part of the section of the population most severely affected by the crisis, mainly the Indian population.

Apart from a crackdown by the forces of order, the Ecuadorian authorities have responded to this social unrest by declaring a state of emergency.

Given the ethnic character of the protest, which has so far remained essentially peaceful, is the Commission not afraid that the current economic crisis might jeopardise the plurinational and democratic State enshrined in the country's new constitution?

Has the Commission expressed its opposition to the state of emergency that has been declared, or does it intend to do so?

Will the Commission call on the Ecuadorian Government to guarantee the civil and political freedoms of the population during the protests, provided they are peaceful, in order to prevent the situation from deteriorating?

Given the conditions of real poverty faced by around 70 % of the population at a time of political instability, does the Commission not think that the international community should tackle the problem of Ecuador's external debt and the need to rebuild its economy in the context of the Paris Club and on the basis of criteria that seek to avoid an aid-based approach and focus on large-scale national and international investment?

What other initiatives will the Commission take to help Ecuador overcome this difficult situation?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(28 March 2001)

The state of emergency declared on 2 February 2001 was lifted on 7 February following the signing of an agreement between the Ecuadorian government and representatives of the indigenous populations. The Commission welcomes the resumption of dialogue and consultation and the ensuing return to a full guarantee of constitutional freedoms. The Commission is indeed concerned at the increasing involvement of indigenous ethnic groups in social protest movements and fears that the situation could jeopardise Ecuador's multi-ethnic nature. Protection of the rights of indigenous peoples was identified as one of the key objectives in the implementation of the European initiative for democracy and human rights in Ecuador (budget chapter B7-70).

The Commission is using all the instruments at its disposal to help Ecuador combat poverty: Ecuadorian exports benefit from a preferential Community trade arrangement (the Andean and Central American Generalised System of Preferences(1)); grant aid (which does not increase the country's indebtedness) is provided to support financial and technical cooperation activities implemented in partnership with the government ( 13 million per year on average) and with civil society (5 NGO projects backed in 2000 for a total of 3,3 million).

The key sectors of cooperation with the Ecuadorian government for the period 2000-2006 will be health, infrastructure, the environment and economic cooperation.

A total of 4 million in humanitarian aid has also been provided since 1996 in response to earthquakes, droughts, El Niño, flooding, volcanic eruptions and epidemics.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2820/98 of 21 December 1998 applying a multiannual scheme of generalised tariff preferences for the period 1 July 1999 to 31 December 2001 (OJ L 357, 30.12.1998).