WRITTEN QUESTION E-0853/00

by Maria Carrilho (PSE) to the Council

(20 March 2000)

Subject: Mozambique

It is currently impossible to assess the scale of the disaster which has struck Mozambique, its land and its people, either at present a period during which survival is the absolute priority or in the medium term, a time of reconstruction in which restoring hope and providing resources will be essential if the people of Mozambique are to rediscover within themselves the enthusiastic commitment which had been contributing so much to the development of the country.

How is the Council intending to ensure (as far as it can) that the transition from the current stage to the reconstruction stage proceeds smoothly?

What material and organisational resources is the Council intending to make available during the reconstruction stage, and over what timescale (if known)?

Reply

(8 June 2000)

The Council discussed the situation in Mozambique on 20 March. It had followed closely and with great concern the situation in Mozambique (and other parts of the region) where the flooding had been one of the most serious catastrophes to have occurred in recent years. It expressed its solidarity with the people and government of Mozambique and the other countries of the region as they grappled with the devastating consequences of the flooding and its sympathy with them as they set about rebuilding their shattered lives.

It took note of the conclusions of the mission to Mozambique from 2 to 4 March, shortly after the Mozambique government asked for help, by the President of the Development Council, the Portuguese Secretary of State for Development Cooperation, Mr Amado, and the Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian aid, Mr Nielson, to assess the scale of the damage and identify priority needs.

The Council also recognised the broader impact this catastrophe was likely to have on Mozambique's economy and development. It has endorsed the Mozambique government's twin-track approach aiming at meeting the immediate needs for relief while working to rehabilitate affected areas and to ensure both macro-economic stability and the maintenance of on-going programmes of development assistance.

On the former, the Council noted that the Member States and the Community have to date pledged over 85 million in emergency humanitarian aid as well as further aid in kind. The Council underlined that this represented the major share of international contributions reported by the UN (OCHA) which amounted to over 120 million. In addition, the Council noted with satisfaction the solidarity shown by the EU's citizens in their generous response to the appeals for assistance.

On the latter, several Member States and the Community have already announced a total of 66,5 million in aid for rehabilitation and budgetary support and a further 156 million in debt relief. The Council noted that in addition to this support, 100 million were disbursed in 1999 in Mozambique under the Community's co-operation programme and up to 150 million are expected to be disbursed in 2000.

The Member States and the Community will continue to participate actively in Maputo in the co-ordination of rehabilitation being led by the Mozambique government and look forward to making a positive contribution to the donor conference to be held in Rome at the end of April/beginning of May. It is only at this time that the needs will have been assessed properly and therefore that the full picture of the resources that the Member States and the Community will make available during the reconstruction period will become clear.

The Council will continue to follow the situation in Mozambique closely.