WRITTEN QUESTION E-3870/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Subject: European Union funding in Honduras

Given that the international community's response to the Hurricane Mitch disaster two years ago in Honduras has been acknowledged as being well organised and is achieving its aim of rebuilding Honduras, would the Commission please explain promptly why the EU has not delivered on its promises to allocate several billion euros to Honduras and why, two years later, not a single euro has been transferred to that country?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2001)

In order to respond to the most urgent needs, the European Community's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) implemented in Honduras emergency relief actions for a total amount of 15 million between 1998 and 1999 and has committed a further 1,5 million in 2000. ECHO's intervention focused on three main sectors of assistance: water and sanitation, health, rehabilitation of houses. Aid for food security in the region totalled 30 million in 1999, the majority of which was committed to Honduras. All the Food aid and ECHO aid committed to Honduras was disbursed via European and local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) throughout the country in the months following the hurricane.

In addition to the important emergency assistance, the Community is highly committed to contributing to the reconstruction and transformation programme of the Central American countries affected by Hurricane Mitch. This has been a longer term effort which had to be thoroughly prepared and co-ordinated with the national development strategies and other donors' activities. In this respect, the Commission is pleased to inform the Honourable Member that it has indeed started to implement the Regional Programme for Reconstruction of Central America (PRRAC). A decentralised team, including officials and local agents, is managing the PRRAC programme from the Commission Delegation in Nicaragua, in order to ensure the proper use of public funds.

This programme totalling 250 million covers, in the four beneficiary countries (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala), public health, water and sanitation, housing, education and training, in an attempt to give continuity to and strengthen the activities previously undertaken. On 22nd December 1999 the Commission made the first financial commitment for the PRRAC, amounting to 82,5 million.

With regard to Honduras, the PRRAC has committed 30 million via its Subprograma Honduras to this country which are being implemented during the period 1999 to 2002. In 1998 the PRRAC's Studies and Technical assistance project committed 8,2 million to Honduras. On 22 December 2000, the Commission has committed the second part of the PRRAC for a total amount of 44,16 of which approximately 22 million are devoted to Honduras.

More than 30 % of the total amount allowed to project PRRACOs Studies and technical assistance has already been disbursed. Regarding the first commitment for the PRRAC, disbursements have started in December 2000 and will continue within 2001, together with the second engagement, once this one will be signed by the beneficiary countries.

In addition to the above programmes, the Commission will contribute at least 15 million to the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative in Honduras. This will be disbursed when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirms that Honduras is in a position to receive it.

The Community is pleased to inform the Honourable Member that it is also implementing several projects by traditional bilateral co-operation for development aid in Honduras. In March 2000, approximately 40 projects were being implemented by the Community, totalling 60 million.

The Commission is of the view that it has made a considerable effort in the relief and reconstruction of Central America and in particular with regard to Honduras.