EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 70/12

(2004/C 70 E/012)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3542/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 2002)

Subject: Trade-related assistance

Would the Commission clarify how the calculation will be made for the amount of funding for which ACP countries will be eligible for trade-related assistance?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2003)

For some time now development cooperation with African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries has paid attention to trade-related assistance. This took place in a variety of forms, for example as a key component of support for regional integration initiatives, or to address specific issues such as improving customs data. In many cases trade-related assistance was part of a wider operation such as agricultural export promotion or infrastructure development.

Despite the importance that is attached to trade issues, the Cotonou Agreement does not prescribe a particular allocation for trade-related assistance. Within the available envelopes for national and regional programmes, it is the dialogue with and among the beneficiaries and stakeholders that determines the allocation. Hence, there is no specific calculation for the amount of funding for trade-related assistance. The same applies to any other important development theme.

The 9th European Development Fund (EDF) guidelines for regional programming suggested a minimum allocation of 20 per cent for trade-related assistance. With most of the regional programmes now finalised, it is clear that this figure has been greatly exceeded: the allocation for regional integration and trade-related assistance in regional indicative programmes is between 40 and 50 per cent of the initial amount i.e. EUR 280 to EUR 350 million. The regional infrastructure programmes also include significant trade facilitation components. In addition, there are intra-ACP funds of which EUR 50 million have been earmarked for trade-related assistance.

Because the national strategy papers and indicative programmes often contain open-ended capacity building and technical assistance programmes, it is not possible at this stage to put a strict figure on the share of trade-related assistance. A rough estimate would put the amount of trade-related assistance to around EUR 150 million.

Adding to the above figures some intra-ACP programmes (including support for World Trade Organisation (WTO) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) preparation and for Sanitary and Phytosanitary compliance) that recently came on stream, at least EUR 600 million are available for trade-related assistance to ACP countries for the coming years.

In line with the recommendations in its recent Communication on Trade and Development (1), the Commission intends to use the mid-term review of country and regional strategies to review the availability of funds for trade-related assistance.

Finally, at a more general level, it is important to add that in collaboration with other development partners, the policy dialogue with developing countries will address the issue of better integrating trade policy matters into the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers and other national and regional development plans. Moreover, the Commission plays an important role in the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries (LDC) and has accepted to be a facilitator in three ACP LDCs.

(1) COM(2002) 513 final.