WRITTEN QUESTION E-1251/96 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (23 May 1996)

Subject: Sustainable development

The proposal for a Council regulation (COM(95)294 ((OJ C 20, 24.1.1996, p. 4 ))) is aimed at promoting the integration of an environmental dimension into the development process in developing countries. The aim of the proposal is to fulfil the Community's responsibilities in the area of international environmental cooperation and to implement the principle of economic and social sustainability in development cooperation.

The proposal therefore defines the conditions on which the Community can give financial and technical aid to developing countries in certain priority sectors and broadens the range of instruments at the Community's disposal for putting environmental policy into effect.

Given that the budget set aside for such actions is limited, could the Commission define the priorities from year to year, make it compulsory as a rule for beneficiaries to contribute towards the funding and apply the principle of co-financing to most of the projects? Could it also publish the results of the experience gained through the reports and the evaluations that are made?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (18 June 1996)

Since the matter raised by the question is the joint competence of Vice President Marin and Commissioner Pinheiro, the following answer is given by the two members on behalf of the Commission.

Priority setting on a year-by-year basis has already been practised by the Commission in the management of the budget heading for development assistance in the field of environment. Major subject areas up to now were particularly the urban environment and the protection of biological diversity. In future, the Commission proposes in the draft Council regulation on environmental measures in developing countries in the context of sustainable development ((COM(95) 294 final )), to discuss general guidelines annually with Member States in their respective geographical committee (ALA/MED/EDF). This proposal has been agreed in the common position adopted by the Development Council in May 1996.

The Commission supports in its proposal systematic efforts to obtain a contribution, and in particular a financial contribution, from the ultimate beneficiaries, according to their means and the nature of the operation concerned. Moreover, opportunities for cofinancing, in particular with the Member States or with multilateral, regional or other organizations are sought.

With regard to assistance provided under the budget heading for development assistance in the field of environment, it is meant to complement and reinforce assistance provided under other instruments of development cooperation with a view to taking into account fully environmental considerations in Community programmes. As such, its vocation is to finance pilot schemes in the field as well as policy studies.

A report on the results of activities carried out under the environment budget heading to date has been prepared the Commission and will be transmitted to the Council and the Parliament after translation. Under the proposal, further reports will be provided at the end of each budget year including a summary of any independent evaluation conducted of specific operations. This also will cover the evaluation of the Commission's development assistance in the field of the environment, specifically paying attention to the budget line B7-6200 (former B7-5040), which will be completed in December 1996.