WRITTEN QUESTION E-0592/00

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) and Jan Wiersma (PSE) to the Commission

(29 February 2000)

Subject: The Moluccas

The second emergency aid programme for the Moluccas ( 900 000) will end in late February. The Commission is now working on a third programme. Up to now this aid has been channelled through French and Belgian NGOs. Is the Commission prepared to involve Dutch NGOs which consult with Moluccan organisations in the Netherlands with diverse links with the Moluccas in order to achieve a peaceful, stabilising effect?

Will the Commission also ensure that structural aid, which it has given to Novib and Oxfam UK, for example, and which cannot be spent because of the conflicts, can be spent on reconciliation and preventive action in the context of emergency aid and rehabilitation?

Can the Commission inform us of the additional support for developing Indonesia? From which category will any appropriations be taken? Is it prepared to include in the aid package the possibility of contacts and exchanges between the capital, Djakarta, and the conflict regions such as the Moluccas and Aceh?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(10 April 2000)

The Commision's Humanitarian Office (ECHO) intervenes in the Moluccas in order to ease the welfare of the inhabitants. In 1999, 1 million were committed for two projects, covering medical supplies, water and sanitation, and food. At present, an aid project covering the same areas is under way for an amount of 900 000. The Commission is examining the continuation of these projects for another six months for food, medical and water and sanitation assistance to the displaced people. It is expected that further funds will be committed for this purpose.

The Commission has not received any project proposals for humanitarian assistance to Moluccas' displaced people from Dutch non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Commission is also particularly attentive regarding the tens of thousands of displaced people in northern Molucca.

As to the question whether unused funds for previous or continuing projects can be re-directed to support reconciliation and preventive action, it is clear that such a re-attribution exceeding the objectives of the original project is not possible, according to the legal basis of the Commission's action.

The recently published communication on developing closer relations with Indonesia(1), outlines the Commission's pro-active development strategy, understood as a long-term and comprehensive approach. It includes contributions, through the available co-operation instruments, to the social and economic development of Indonesia. Particular attention is paid to poverty alleviation and to the sustainable management of natural resources (forestry-co-operation is already one of the key areas). It also includes the establishment of a comprehensive political dialogue to support the anchoring of democracy, the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, good governance, internal dialogue and reconciliation within the country, and the intensification of Community trade and investment relations with Indonesia. The document calls on all the Community's partners to support the process of restructuring Indonesia's economy.

For the 1995-1999 period, Community funding for Indonesia from the general Asia development budget line amounted to less than 20 million a year, to which some funding for human rights projects should be added, available through the Asia human rights budget line.The Commission is committed to increase its financial input for Indonesia, in line with the above priorities.

(1) COM(2000) 50.