WRITTEN QUESTION E-2673/02

by Pasqualina Napoletano (PSE), Hélène Flautre (Verts/ALE),Raimon Obiols i Germà (PSE), José Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE-DE),Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL) and Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Commission

(24 September 2002)

Subject: Criteria for including Mediterranean partner countries in the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights Programming Document, 2002-2004

The European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights Programming Document, 2002-2004 defines the geographical priorities which correspond to the EU's political priorities, as set out in the Commission communication of 8 May 2001(1). As regards the Mediterranean partner countries, the priorities seem to be Algeria, Israel, the West Bank/Gaza Strip, and Tunisia.

Does the Commission not consider that the exclusion of countries such as Morocco, Egypt, the Lebanon and Jordan is difficult to explain and to comprehend?

Will the Commission correct this incomprehensible decision, given that all the countries of the Euro-Mediterranean partnership should be priorities for the European Union as regards encouraging civil society and democracy, and that the Mediterranean partner countries and the general public within the European Union may find it difficult to understand and accept this policy of excluding or including particular countries?

(1) COM(2001) 252 final.

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 2002)

The concentration of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) on a number of focus countries and thematic priorities for 2002-2004 originates in the Commission's Communication of 8 May 2001 on the Union's role in promoting human rights and democratisation in third countries(1), which recognised the need to develop a more strategic approach for the EIDHR. The EIDHR had previously been the subject of a number of Parliament reports(2) and evaluations which had commented that the impact of EIDHR assistance was reduced because of a lack of focus on priorities, as well as limited sustainability of action. The Commission's resolve to adopt a more strategic approach to the EIDHR was welcomed and encouraged by the Council in June 2001(3).

After extensive consultation with the Commission's geographical services and Delegations, 29 focus countries were identified, among which, for the Mediterranean region, Algeria, Israel, West Bank/Gaza and Tunisia. Selection was made according to criteria set out in the May 2001 Communication: enhancing the impact of EIDHR financed activities, taking into account geographical balance, and enhancing coherence and complementarity with other Community development co-operation instruments and Member States' activities. Considerations about impact and complementarity were framed within the context of overall political relations between the Union and third countries. In order to enable the Commission to ensure that its strategy is coherent and to allow it to produce measurable results on the ground, a substantial revision of the focus country list is not envisaged in the near future.

However, regarding complementarity with other Community co-operation instruments, it should be underlined that the Mediterranean-European Development Agreement (MEDA) programme foresees substantial allocations for civil society in a number of countries like Egypt and Jordan, as well as support to measures aiming at improving good governance. Substantial allocations to democratisation related reform, in areas such as the judiciary, are also being implemented with several Mediterranean partners in the framework of the MEDA programme.

Further, the Commission would like to recall that civil society from all third countries, including all Mediterranean partners, have been able to send projects under all thematic EIDHR calls for proposals launched in 2002.

Calls for proposals were launched on:

a) support for abolition of the death penalty

b) prevention of torture and support for the victims of torture

c) fighting impunity and promoting international justice

d) combating racism and xenophobia and discrimination against ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples.

(1) COM(2001) 252 final.

(2) Lenz Report on setting up a single co-ordinating structure within the Commission responsible for human rights and democratisation, PE 220.735/fin, 4.12.97, Imbeni Report on the report from the Commission on the implementation of measures intended to promote observance of human rights and democratic principles (for 1995), COM(96) 672 final C4-0095/97, PE 223.610/fin, 2.12.1997; Roubatis Report on COM(95) 567 final C4-0568/95, PE 228.009fin, 6.11.1998.

(3) Council Conclusions on the Union's Role in Promoting Human Rights and Democratisation in Third Countries, Luxembourg, 25 June 2001.