EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 84/286

(2004/C 84 E/0332)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4020/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Congo river basin

At its meeting of 2 December 2003 the Committee on Development and Cooperation invited Mr Henri Djombo, Minister of Forestry and the Environment (Congo), to present the Republic of the Congo's environmental programme, which is partly funded by the European Union, with particular reference to conservation of the environment in the Congo river basin. After this introduction, a film was shown.

1. To what extent have these fine words been translated into practical achievements in this area?

2. On what exactly were the European Union funds spent?

3. Why has the European Union's contribution been reduced?

Answer given by M. Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2004)

At the meeting of 2 December 2003 Mr Henri Djombo, the Republic of Congo's Minister of Forestry and the Environment, presented to Parliament's Committee on Development and Cooperation the Republic's environment programme, which includes conservation of the environment in the Congo river basin and is partly funded by the European Union. This was followed by the showing of a film.

The European Commission provides funds for environmental activities in the Republic of Congo through the regional programme for the Conservation and Rational Use of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa (Ecofac). The Republic of Congo's share of the programme mainly concerns the Odzala national park (13 500 km2) in the north of the country. The Commission is planning further instalments of the programme, which is currently in its third phase. Both regional and national funds will be contributing to the programme. Plans for the fourth phase are undergoing appraisal and the intention is to start up activities early in 2005. A further programme for the Republic on its own (Developing protected areas) is also being examined with a view to allocating it a total EUR 2 million from the resources of the National Indicative Programme (NIP).

European Union funds which directly or indirectly benefit the environment in the Republic of Congo have been allocated mainly to:

— managing the Odzala national park (infrastructure maintenance, equipping staff, various renovations, monitoring animal populations, park surveillance, anti-poaching operations, developing ecotourism);

— development measures which benefit people living in the vicinity and implementation of three sections of the eighth European Development Fund (EDF) micro-project programme;

— training of management and local staff;

— support for national and regional institutions via the Network of protected areas in Central Africa (RAPAC);

— managing production forests in consultation and partnership with the companies exploiting forest resources.

The European Union is contributing more to this programme in percentage terms than it did under earlier EDF programmes, namely 25 % or EUR 14 million of the Regional Indicative Programme (RIP) for Central Africa. However, in absolute terms this is less than previously because the total allocated to the region under the ninth EDF is lower and because the Republic of Congo is now part of the regions of East Africa (Comesa (1) IGAD (2), COI (3), EAC (4)) and Southern Africa (SADC (5)). But the various NIPs will also be contributing, namely EUR 3,3 million to Gabon, EUR 4 million to Cameroon and EUR 2 million to the Republic of Congo — although the latter has yet to be confirmed. Then, given the importance of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the forests of the Congo river basin, it cannot be left out of any regional programme, and this means contributing to the regional funds for which the DRC is eligible. The DRC requested support totalling some EUR 10 million from the Regional Indicative Programmes (RIPs) for East Africa and Southern Africa. Whilst the IRCC (6) for East Africa agreed to provide EUR 5 million on condition that SADC did the same, the SADC regional body has so far refused, which means that the DRC cannot participate in the regional programme. The DRC has therefore resubmitted its application to SADC and a SADC Council decision is expected early in March. If this Council hands down a favourable decision, the global amounts allocated to further work on the conservation of Central African forest ecosystems will be roughly the same as those granted for earlier phases of the programme and will enable the DRC to rejoin the local actions and partnership processes inherent in the political initiative that is the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.

(1) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

(2) Intergovernmental Authority on Development.

(3) Indian Ocean Commission.

(4) East African Community.

(5) Southern Africa Development Community.

(6) Inter Regional Co-ordinating Committee.