WRITTEN QUESTION E-1654/03

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 May 2003)

Subject: Aid to displaced populations in Latin American countries

The Commission informed the budgetary authority about commitment appropriations carried over from 2002-2003 in accordance with Article 9(2)(a) of the Financial Regulation, but they have been partially or totally cancelled because the Commission was unable to commit the funds before 31 March. The appropriations carried over totalled EUR 22,5 million, EUR 16 million of which was committed, which means that EUR 6,4 million were cancelled automatically.

Furthermore, the Commission said that out of the total appropriations definitively cancelled (EUR 6,4 million) 42 % (EUR 2,7 million) was intended to fund measures for the benefit of displaced people in Colombia. The justification offered by the Commission was that as soon as the report was approved the Commission's decision-making procedures were launched, but that unfortunately the decision was only taken on 31 March, and was not validated by computer until the morning of 1 April which meant that the accounting system refused the validation of the transaction.

The author of this question feels that this is an extremely serious matter and is evidence of laxity on the part of the Commission as regards its obligations in a sensitive area to which Parliament gives priority.

In view of this can the Commission say whether it can explain what steps it has taken to avoid such deplorable events in future?

Can the Commission say whether it can offer, with a view to the next budget, any alternative to compensate the beneficiaries in Colombia for the irreversible loss of these appropriations?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(24 July 2003)

The Commission can assure the Honourable Member that the EUR 2 700 000 appropriation for project CO-2002-2958 to assist displaced people in Colombia (Atención básica y desarrollo integral de soluciones de restablecimiento para poblaciones desarraigadas y víctimas de la violencia en el Suroccidente Colombiano), which was proposed by the non-governmental organisations Solidaridad Internacional and Movimondo, and for which the Commission took a financing decision on 31 March 2003, will be financed from the commitment appropriation entered in Article B7-312 of the budget for the financial year 2003. The Commission can also assure the Honourable Member that the contract procedures are nearing completion.

Validating the carryover of the commitment for this project from 2002-2003 after the proper deadline (through the Sincom accounting system) is a complicated procedure. Regrettably the concomitant transfer of responsibilities from one department to another, combined with the introduction of a new electronic management system, caused a slip-up which was responsible for this deplorable situation.

The Commission would stress that all the factors contributing to this accident are one-off problems which will not recur. It can assure the Honourable Member that, in view of the serious humanitarian situation in Colombia, the departments concerned will do all in their power to commit and disburse the EUR 21 000 000 set aside for the country under Article B7-312 for the period 2003-2004.

Also, the Commission would inform the Honourable Member that the cancelled commitment appropriation totals EUR 4,4 (not 6,4) million. This is made up of the above EUR 2,7 million and EUR 1,7 million earmarked for financing an EU-Iran energy project.