EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/7

(2004/C 88 E/0008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0258/03

by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 February 2003)

Subject: Enlargement and development cooperation

Enlargement of the European Union has the potential to enhance the EU's influence in world affairs. Upon accession the candidate countries are expected to participate in EU development cooperation. But according to Trialog's Policy Paper (Development Cooperation in the context of EU enlargement, second edition) of November 2002, accession countries have ‘not received official directives regarding development cooperation. Consequently their role in EC development cooperation remains unspecified’. Moreover, most candidate countries have little experience in providing development assistance. Some of them do not even have a national development policy or system.

1. What concrete action has the Commission undertaken in order to prepare candidate countries for participation in the EU's development policy? What action will it undertake in the future?

2. What are the criteria used by the Commission to measure progress by the candidate countries in relation to development issues?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2003)

In the preparations for membership, the Union body of law has been extensively explained to the candidate countries, including the Union development co-operation. Apart from the screening process, the acceding countries have participated in a number of meetings, bilateral as well as multilateral, where elements of the Union's development co-operation have been discussed. Notably, a seminar was organised by the Commission in July 2002, devoted to explaining the different aspects of the Union's development co-operation to the candidate countries and to exchange experiences and know-how between present and future Member States.

The Commission has, over the past few months, started to address the practical implications of enlargement for Union development policy and co-operation policy in a more systematic way. The Member of the Commission responsible for development travelled to Prague in December 2002 with the objective of increasing public awareness on development aspects of enlargement in acceding countries and he is scheduled to participate in a Ministerial Conference in Berlin in April 2003. The Director General for Development attended several Seminars held in acceding countries (Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic) aimed at explaining Union development policy. He will visit Copenhagen in March 2003 to participate in a Seminar on Development and enlargement. The Commission is actively participating in workshops and seminars devoted specifically to development issues (Bonn, Vienna).

Union Development Director Generals have put the topic on the agenda of their informal meetings and a meeting was held in February 2003 dedicated entirely to the subject of enlargement.

In the period between the conclusion of the Accession Negotiations and the date of accession, the Commission will intensify its monitoring of the acceding countries to guarantee that the countries' legislation and practices are brought into line with Union standards. The acceding countries' efforts to prepare for taking part in the Union's development co-operation is evaluated in this context. In this respect, candidate countries need to ensure their administrative capacity to participate in the shaping of the development co-operation and the capacity to contribute financially to the European Development Fund.