WRITTEN QUESTION E-2140/00

by Antonio Tajani (PPE-DE), Mario Mauro (PPE-DE) and Mario Mantovani (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 June 2000)

Subject: Violation of human rights and international law in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

What action does the Commission intend to take in support of the appeal made by the African Bishops' Conference concerning the alarming plight of the people of the DRC?

In particular, is it aware of the serious violations of human rights and international law being perpetrated in that country?

The fighting between Rwandan, Burundian and Ugandan troops, the genocidal acts and atrocities being committed against children, the unrelenting violence to which women and girls are being submitted and the systematic plunder of the DRC's raw material resources are forcing women and children into the forests to hide from the criminals.

How does the Commission intend to help ensure that these continuing violations of the human rights of the Congolese people are brought to an end?

How does it intend to ensure that the EU Member States provide the DRC and the Central African countries with the resources they require to get their agricultural systems and their economies back on their feet?

Does it have any plans to provide African students with grants enabling them to gain the knowledge their countries need in order to rebuild the infrastructure required for the development of the whole of Africa?

Finally, what action does it intend to take with a view to securing the cancellation of the DRC's entire foreign debt?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

The Commission has received a copy of the message sent by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) bishops to several interlocutors and international organisations.

Since the crisis began, the Commission has closely and anxiously monitored the situation in the Great Lakes region where the DRC is currently the focus of attention owing to the war that has been going on there for two years now.

Wherever possible, given the security and access problems, the Commission has in recent years undertaken humanitarian and rehabilitation operations to help needy Congolese. ECHO alone has committed50 million over the period 1998-2000. The rehabilitation programmes under way, notably in health, food security and transport, represent financial commitments of130 million by the European Development Fund (EDF) over the last five years. Significant amounts (around10 million) have also been committed or await decision from the appropriate budget headings.

The EU's Great Lakes envoy, Mr Aldo Ajello, has been criss-crossing the region to facilitate the search for a solution to the conflict and the Commission is also supporting action to that end. The Lusaka accords are the only route to peace and the ensuing measures such as those undertaken by the Joint Military Commission and the appointment of a mediator for the Congolese dialogue have received EU financial support via the EDF and the CFSP budget heading. The relevant financial commitments decided or awaiting approval amount to some 6 million.

Specific projects on human rights are currently being examined with a view to financing a programme in the DRC. Programmes aimed at rehabilitating the judiciary and strengthening legal security and public awareness are also planned. These come on top of schemes under way or in the pipeline on humanitarian aid and rehabilitation in the fields of health, urban renewal, water, transport and food security through local production.

These programmes are of course complementary and have been drawn up in conjunction with other donors, notably the Member States. On 22 May 2000 the Council asked the Commission to examine the scope for gradually resuming cooperation in areas geared to reconciliation and establishing the rule of law.

The Commission has no mechanism for grants in Africa aside from special initiatives forming part of the national indicative programme (NIP) adopted for each signatory of the Convention between the Community and the ACP countries. In the DRC's case the political situation has prevented the signing of an NIP and grants are available only for regional programmes such as Comstat for training in statistics. There are training courses relating to rehabilitation in the field concerned.

For the time being the situation in the DRC means that it is not eligible for the debt reduction initiative (for HIPCs) and no other measures of this kind are planned.