WRITTEN QUESTION E-2307/99

by Lone Dybkjær (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: UN Convention to Combat Desertification

The following questions are tabled with a view to securing clarification of the positions taken by the Commission in implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD).

1. In which developing countries does the European Union take part in funding the implementation of national action plans to combat desertification? How much money is spent, what is the money used for, and who is the recipient? How does the established financial cooperation ensure the continuity of action programmes and allow for necessary long-term planning?

2. What has the European Union done to encourage the mobilisation of funding from the private sector and other non-governmental sources and to promote and facilitate access by the developing countries affected to appropriate technology, knowledge and know-how, pursuant to Article 6 of the CCD?

3. What has the European Union done to ensure that its trade policy and tariff structures do not lead to desertification, e.g. by promoting monocultures?

4. What has the European Union done to ensure that its agriculture policy does not lead to desertification, e.g. through export subsidies that make traditional agriculture in arid areas unprofitable?

5. What does the European Commission Union done to ensure the speedy and comprehensive implementation of the CCD in the next few years?

6. What has the European Union done to ensure appropriate involvement of European stakeholders in the implementation of CCD?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2000)

1. The Community is at the moment not funding the implementation of national action plans to combat desertification in any country since only a few countries have actually drawn up a plan. However, it has funded and has continued to fund a variety of programmes and projects against drought and land degradation in the developing countries, in particular in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. It is not possible to quantify the amount being spent, because of the cross-cutting nature of the subject. However, a report(1), which is currently being revised, provides details of the anti-desertification measures funded by the Community in the developing countries and in the Community over the period 1990-1995. By providing a financial envelope to each ACP state for the funding of its national indicative programme over a five year period under the Lomé Convention, the Community provides predictability for action programmes, allowing for long-term planning for ACP countries.

2. The Community has a general policy of promoting the private sector in the developing countries and facilitating the access of these countries to appropriate technology, knowledge

and know-how. Indeed, it was for this reason that it set up the Centre for the development of industry (CDI) under the Lomé Convention. The CDI mobilises funding and technology from private and non-governmental sources for the development of industries in the ACP states. Through structural adjustment support, the Community assists its partners in creating the enabling environment for the growth of the private sector.

3. In pursuit of its overall policy of gradual integration of the developing countries into the global economy, the Community aims at ensuring that trade does not have negative impacts on the environment. This was why it advocated the inclusion of the question of trade and environment in the millennium round of the World trade organisation (WTO).

4. The Community pursues a policy of sustainable development and environmental protection in the developing countries. Agricultural export subsidies (stabex) is one of the issues currently being re-negotiated, under the post-Lomé arrangements, with the ACP states. Without prejudicing the outcome, the Community's aim is precisely to ensure that they do not have negative effects on agriculture in these countries.

5. The Commission delegations in the ACP countries have been asked to initiate dialogue, wherever possible, with national co-ordinating bodies and focal points of the Convention to combat desertification (CCD) with a view to determining the best way forward in implementation of the Convention. The outcome of this exercise will enable the Commission to act in a more speedy manner.

6. The Community advocates decentralised co-operation and the involvement of all concerned in Europe in the development process, including the implementation of the CCD. It has co-funded and will continue to co-fund projects in the developing countries with European non-governmental organisations.

(1) SEC(97) 1429.