WRITTEN QUESTION E-2704/01

by Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(3 October 2001)

Subject: G8 meeting in Genoa

The European Community, as created by De Gasperi, Adenauer and Schuman, was intended as a means of overcoming the selfishness of states and of encouraging solidarity with the world's poorer regions.

At the G8 meeting, the democratically elected leaders of some of the most advanced countries of the world held their periodic discussions on a few of the innumerable serious problems affecting the life of the planet. For the first time, representatives of the European Union, the UN and a number of poor countries were invited to the meeting. A number of measures were adopted with respect to the poorer countries which, without resolving the problems, at least represent a small step towards cancellation of the debt and a possible improvement in health conditions.

In the light of the above, how does the Commission intend to follow up the conclusions of the Genoa Summit over the coming months?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(21 November 2001)

The Community has taken part in the process of the group of seven/eight most industrialised countries (G7/G8) ever since 1977. The President of the Commission takes part in the Summit every year. The President of the European Council also takes part whenever a non-G8 member holds the Council Presidency. As such, in Genoa, the Community was represented by Mr Guy Verhofstadt as President of the European Council and by President Prodi.

At the Summit in July 2001, for the second year in a row, a number of leaders from developing countries were invited to take part in a meeting with G8 leaders. This was, undoubtedly, one of the most significant events of the Genoa Summit and allowed for an open exchange between all those present. Following this meeting, the G8 leaders agreed on the Genoa Plan for Africa and on the establishment of a group of high level personal representatives to liaise with African leaders on the development of a concrete Action Plan to be approved at the G8 Summit next year. President Prodi's personal representative will thus take part in the group and will contribute to the development of the Action Plan.

This, of course, was not the only development-related issue to be dealt with in Genoa. Indeed, as the Honourable Member rightly highlights in his question, the main focus of the Summit was one of caring and responsibility vis-à-vis the developing world. G8 leaders also agreed on the establishment of a G8 Task Force on development and education; made a substantial contribution to the newly established Global Health Fund, and further developed their dialogue on poverty reduction, market access, health, education and food security.

The Commission will fully take part in the newly created G8 groupings whilst remaining committed to pursuing the Community development strategy. The Honourable Member's question relates to the Commission's activities in two specific areas: debt reduction and health.

The Commission is a strong advocate of the need for debt relief to poor countries. The majority of Community aid is delivered as grants, thus helping developing countries without adding to their debt burden. The Commission has, since the beginning, supported the HIPC (Highly Indebted Poor Country) Initiative which is the main instrument the Donor Community has designed to address debt reduction. The Community contributes directly to the debt relief initiative, a total of 1 082,97 million up to now. To date, 18 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries have benefited from Community assistance as debt relief. The Commission has also proposed to cancel all special loans owed to the Community by Least Developed Countries. The proposal is due for adoption by the ACP-Community Council of Ministers by the end of 2001.

Furthermore, the new Partnership Agreement between the 77 ACP and the 15 Member States signed in Cotonou, Benin, on 23 June 2000, foresees specific possibilities regarding in particular the use of European Development Fund (EDF) resources for debt relief and the provision of technical assistance in the area of debt management.

With reference to health, the Community contribution to the Global Fund fighting human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), malaria and tuberculosis (launched in Genoa) is part of the Community Programme for Action targeting Communicable Diseases in the context of poverty reduction which was adopted by the Council on 14 May 2001. President Prodi pledged 120 million for the Fund. The Commission and the Member States together pledged more than 1 000 million out of total pledges of 1 800 million, thus making the Community the largest contributor.

In order to mobilise the pledged funds the Commission has recently submitted to the budgetary authority a proposal for a budget transfer of 60 million to the line for poverty diseases (B7-6211) and for future contributions, the Commission has proposed to endow a budget line covered by a new regulation on poverty disease with a substantially increased amount from which to finance the Fund.