WRITTEN QUESTION E-3835/97 by Hedy d'Ancona (PSE) to the Commission (28 November 1997)

Subject: Council Regulation (EC) 1292/96 and the supply of emergency food aid to Ethiopia via Euronaid

What steps is the Commission taking to comply with Council Regulation (EC)1292/96 ((OJ L 166, 5.7.1996, p. 1. )), which recognizes the importance of building up the capacity of local NGOs in order to improve food security?

Joint answer to Written Questions E-3833/97, E-3834/97, E-3835/97 and E-3836/97 given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (30 January 1998)

The questions raised by the Honourable Member concern the food-aid and security operations which have been carried out since 1995 on behalf of Ethiopia, in particular the Tigray region, and the joint study by the Netherlands Organisation for International Development Cooperation (NOVIB) and the Relief Society of Tigray (REST) entitled Internal Food Purchase Policy, an Independent Evaluation Report 1997. The Commission has studied this report closely and cannot concur with its conclusions, which reflect the views of its authors only.

Ethiopia had an extremely good harvest in 1995, thanks to good rainy seasons and the Community-backed economic reform policies for food security, which resulted in increased production.

While the country as a whole has produced a surplus, certain regions - notably Tigray - are in deficit; the most vulnerable populations, whose purchasing power is inadequate or non-existent, should continue to receive assistance.

In agreement with the Ethiopian authorities, the Commission decided to buy locally a total of 110 000 tonnes of cereal. 75 000 tonnes went to boost the capacities of the Emergency Food Security Reserve (EFSR) and were bought directly by the Commission. 35 000 tonnes were destined for the food-security programmes implemented by the Tigray organization REST and were bought by Euronaid, as is its role, at the Commission's request and in agreement with the Ethiopian authorities.

Today, as in November 1995, there are no European or Ethiopian NGOs in Ethiopia who can buy locally and transport these quantities of cereal. The Commission, represented by its delegation, encourages cooperation projects between European and Ethiopian NGOs to strengthen the latter's ability to plan and manage food-security projects. To help them successfully carry out such operations, a seminar was held to train Ethiopian NGOs on the project cycle management model used by the Commission for development programmes and projects. The Commission will directly finance REST's food security programmes for 1998 under the new Council Regulation (EC) No 1292/96 of 27 June 1996 on food-aid policy and management and special operations in support of food security, which came into effect in July 1996. In this context, REST will receive the help of a technical assistant.

Article 9(2)(b) of this Regulation provides that NGOs having their headquarters in one of the recipient countries are entitled to Community aid in support of food-security operations.

Article 9(2)(c) of the Regulation clearly states that one of the conditions of eligibility for Community aid is that a European NGO must be present in the recipient country. Without a physical presence in Ethiopia enabling it to monitor the food situation in Tigray and the programmes run by REST, for which it wishes to act as agent in Europe, the NGO NOVIB is clearly not eligible for food-security and aid operations.

The Commission is not aware of lengthy delays in the decision-making processes on NGO proposals concerning the purchase of foodstuffs.

A preliminary study of funding applications submitted by NGOs is made by the Commission delegation in Ethiopia. A maximum period of one month is requested from the date of the official submission of the project. This period allows the document to be studied and discussed with the NGO and its merit to be assessed on the ground. The NGOs are aware of this procedure.