WRITTEN QUESTION E-1598/01

by André Brie (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 June 2001)

Subject: Future of the PHARE Programme in Bosnia-Hercegovina

During my recent visit to the Balkans as a member of a parliamentary delegation, I had an opportunity to meet a local NGO in Bosnia-Hercegovina which is currently carrying out a project under the PHARE LIEN Programme co-financed by the Commission. Although the project has another year to run, this NGO is already seeking sources of funding for activities after the end the co-financing period. Unfortunately, the PHARE LIEN Programme (and its successor Access Programme) as such is out of the equation, since - unlike ten other Central and Eastern European countries - no funds have been allocated to Bosnia-Hercegovina, despite the persistent desperate plight of its inhabitants.

Given the extremely tense social and economic situation in that country and the constructive contribution being made by local NGOs to the establishment of a functioning civil society, and given that very successful projects have been carried out in this connection specifically under the PHARE LIEN Programme, could the Commission indicate:

- whether it is aware of the significance of such projects for the establishment of civil-society structures, for support for a plethora of local initiatives and for an improvement in the situation of the direct beneficiaries in Bosnia-Hercegovina?

- why no funds have been made available for the Access Programme in Bosnia-Hercegovina (and who took the decision)?

- what specific steps and measures it intends to take so that, in future, funds for this programme are again allocated to this programme in Bosnia-Hercegovina as well?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(31 July 2001)

The Commission believes that local initiatives can and do make an important contribution to stabilisation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Projects such as those financed by PHARE LIEN have undoubtedly contributed to establishing civil society structures. This has been achieved inter alia through support to local initiatives which, in turn, bring an immediate and positive effect to local beneficiaries. Since the Commission continues to attach great significance to local initiative, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will continue to benefit from Community assistance in the context of the new CARDS programme.

The PHARE LIEN programme has indeed been discontinued in BiH and BiH will not have access to its successor programme, Access. Instead, the Union has decided through the Council that Community assistance to the Western Balkans should be rationalised and concentrated in a single framework for assistance, namely CARDS, as requested by the Helsinki European Council of December 1999. Thus, CARDS is now and will remain the main vehicle for the delivery of Community support, including that to NGOs.

For this reason, the 2001 CARDS programme for BiH proposes the provision of technical assistance to approximately 40 NGOs - with help in project management, networking and advocacy (including contacts with government). Furthermore, it is proposed to finance around 30 social development projects proposed by NGOs receiving technical assistance. It is also proposed to use a Small-Scale Operations Facility to support a number of individual initiatives. Thus, while the CARDS programme undoubtedly has a different orientation than PHARE LIEN or its successor, the Commission believes that it does, nevertheless, provide adequate room to continue support to strategic local initiatives.