EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/794

(2004/C 84 E/0891)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0462/04

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Guinea-Bissau — Commission support

In reply to my question E-3129/03 (1), the Commission revealed that within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement, it would be exploring how to exercise a positive influence on developments in Guinea-Bissau.

The press report that the UN Development Programme (UNDP) recently set up an emergency fund to help Guinea-Bissau re-establish the social services affected by the virtually permanent state of crisis that has prevailed since 1998.

Part of the USD 18,3 million made available will be used to pay workers in the health and teaching sectors, which have been rendered inoperable due to lack of funds.

The Netherlands and Portugal are amongst the countries which have already contributed to the UNDP Fund, so that life in Guinea-Bissau can regain a certain degree of normalcy and the legislative elections of March 2004, the first for four years, will not be cancelled.

The Council, for its part, has recently issued a statement on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, which is overall positive and hopeful.

What conclusions has the Commission reached as to the best way to exercise more influence over developments?

What specific measures has it taken or is it going to take in this respect?

Following the census establishing the electoral register, is the Commission providing human and material support for the holding of legislative elections, so that they will be able to take place on the scheduled date, 28 March 2004, and thus help provide the democratic solutions that will enable the country to get out of the prolonged crisis into which it has been plunged? In what ways does the Commission intend to do this?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2004)

First, the Commission would like to stress that it certainly shares the assessment of the situation set out in the Council conclusions to which the Honourable Member refers.

The conclusions arrived at following the consultations relate to the honouring of commitments made by authorities in Guinea-Bissau, i.e. commitments concerning:

— the transition programme and the holding of legislative elections (28 March 2004);

— adoption of measures to put public finances in order;

— confirmation of moves to restore an independent judiciary and re-establish civilian control over the armed forces.

The EU will monitor the situation very closely over a period of three months, with regular monthly reports.

The Commission will monitor and assess in detail, both inside and outside Guinea-Bissau, the authorities' commitments discussed in the consultations, especially those commitments referred to above. Decisions will not be taken until this monitoring phase is complete.

Cooperation will continue as usual during this consultation period.

With regard to Community support for legislative elections, the Commission started in July 2003 to implement a financing agreement allocating EUR 1,2 million from the 9th European Development Fund to support elections. Funding will go towards equipment, consumables, logistical administrative support, awareness-raising measures, training and technical assistance. The project is now underway and is being implemented in accordance with the funding agreement.

(1) See page 731.