WRITTEN QUESTION E-0595/00

by Helmuth Markov (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(29 February 2000)

Subject: Misuse by the Turkish Parliament of aid donations for earthquake victims

The Turkish newspaper Hürriyet reported on 22 January 2000 that money from funds set up to help the earthquake victims had been used to purchase 35 Renault Laguna cars for Members of the Turkish Parliament at a total cost of 500 billion Turkish liras.

Can the Commission say how EU appropriations have been used, in which funds they were placed and whether any misuse, notably for the purpose indicated above, can be ruled out?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2000)

On 17 August 1999, a major earthquake hit the Marmara region of Turkey. The Commission, via ECHO the Humanitarian Aid Office immediately responded by taking two separate funding decisions of 2 million each. On 12 November 1999 a second major earthquake hit the Bolu region of Turkey. The Commission again responded by allocating the sum of 3 million. On 20 December 1999 a final funding decision of 23 million was adopted by the Commission thus bringing the overall amount of allocations to be managed by ECHO for victims of the earthquakes in Turkey to 30 million.

With regard to the newspaper article referred to by the Honourable Member, the Commission has not had the opportunity to read this account. In any event, there appears to be no evidence that the donations referred to in that article derive from Community funds. It should be emphasised that none of the contracts concluded with ECHO partners in Turkey include the provision of motor vehicles to government officials.

It may be useful to recall the various safeguards put in place to reduce the risk of misappropriations.

ECHO's programmes in Turkey include the provision of temporary shelter, distribution of medicines and hygiene packs, the provision of post-trauma counselling and disaster preparedness. ECHO works on the basis of a framework partnership agreement (FPA) with organisations which include non-governmental organisations (NGOs), UN bodies and the Red Cross and Red Crescent family.

Partners are expected to be experienced in the field of humanitarian assistance and must adhere to the criteria outlined in Council Regulation No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid(1) in order to qualify to accede to the FPA. ECHO earmarks allocations to partners on the basis of project proposals. When these project proposals are approved, contracts which itemise the work to be carried out are concluded with the partner. According to the terms of the contracts, the partners are prohibited from deviating from the actions included in the operational contracts. Deviations may call for a recovery of funds. In addition and in accordance with the financial regulation applicable to the general budget of the Communities, the humanitarian organisation shall give Commission departments or any organisation mandated by the Commission and the Court of auditors access to its accounts at any given moment. Invoices justifying expenses incurred during the life of a programme are kept at partners' headquarters for a period of five years during which they can be consulted for auditing purposes.

In the majority of humanitarian aid crises, ECHO also relies on technical assistance in the field to monitor programmes on a daily basis and report to ECHO headquarters regularly. This is the case for Turkey where ECHO has an office in Istanbul. Partners are also required to submit regular reports during the life of the contract. The checks and balances outlined above all serve the same purpose, that is to ensure as far as possible the financial probity of humanitarian assistance programmes.

Finally, in order that the Honourable Member has a complete overview of Community intervention related to the earthquakes in Turkey at this time, the following information relates to a recent initiative being implemented by the European Investment Bank.

Council Decision No 1999/786/EC of 29 November 1999 provides for the granting of a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank (EIB) against losses under loans for projects for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake-stricken areas of Turkey(2). This guarantee covers EIB loans amounting to 600 million, over a three year period, for investment projects carried out for the replacement, rehabilitation or reconstruction of surface and sub-surface infrastructure, industrial installations and small and medium-sized enterprises as well as urban infrastructure and housing. The first framework loan, amounting to 450 million, was signed in February 2000.

(1) OJ L 163, 2.7.1996.

(2) OJ L 308, 3.12.1999.