WRITTEN QUESTION E-1004/01

by Edward McMillan-Scott (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(30 March 2001)

Subject: European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights

What plans does the Commission have for the continued administration, monitoring and evaluation of projects financed from Chapter B7-70?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2001)

On 29 April 1999 the Council adopted two Regulations(1) laying down procedures for the implementation of Community development cooperation operations contributing to the objective of consolidating democracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms; they provide a legal basis for all human rights and democratisation operations financed by Chapter B7-70 of the Community budget.

Under the reform of external aid, the Directorate General (DG) for External Relations initially undertakes programming, in consultation with the geographical departments and the delegations, to establish priorities based on objectives covered by regulations on human rights and taking the EU's political priorities into account. The programming is then implemented by Cooperation Office departments.

1. Management and monitoringThe Chapter covers five budget lines(2) for 2001 and contains three main ways of implementing the EU's strategy in the areas in question:

(a) Projects identified through a public call for proposals(3)

With a contribution from the Commission of at least 300 000 per project, they are implemented by civil society operators, including local authorities (but not including national or international governmental institutions and organisations). Priorities based on objectives covered by human rights regulations were defined for the call. In accordance with the Commission approach to taking the gender policy into account, submitted projects must refer specifically to the impact their activities will have on men and women. Around 1300 projects worth approximately 1 billion in total have been received since the call.

(b) Targeted projects

Projects are implemented within the framework of common programmes with partners which can include international governmental organisations and national authorities. The Commission identifies them in pursuance of specific objectives unable to be achieved through the call for proposals. The aim is to support projects which are important enough and will last long enough to ensure that the activities will make an obvious difference to the situation in question. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the Commission will support projects worth a minimum of 600 000.

(c) Microprojects

Microprojects launched by local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) receive a Community contribution up to 50 000 and are managed directly by the Commission delegation in the countries concerned. They involve NGOs, which play an essential role in their countries but generally cannot access funding from the budget in the ways described above due to their limited size and human resources. The Commission delegations are responsible for launching a local call for proposals based on specific priorities, assessing and selecting projects, concluding contracts with applicants, selection and payments, in line with guidelines agreed by the Commission

2. Evaluation

Each contract provides the possibility for the Commission and the Court of Auditors to inspect documents and places where projects are implemented.

An independent annual evaluations of 10 to 15 % of all projects is planned during the third quarter of 2001 (there are currently 724 projects under way, costing 221 million), i.e. an assessment of around 100 projects each year.

Detailed instructions for the evaluation and regular follow-up of all projects will be adopted. Methodological instruments for regular follow-up will be adopted at the end of the third quarter of 2001.

An electronic network of all recipients will be set up, allowing direct contact. It is planned to publish articles on the projects on an Internet site dedicated to supporting democracy and human rights.

(1) Council Regulations (EC) No 975/1999 and 976/1999 of 29 April 1999 (OJ L 120, 8.5.1999).

(2) B7-701 (Promotion and protection of human rights), B7-702 (Supporting democracy), B7-703 (Prevention of conflicts and dealing with the consequences of conflicts), B7-704N (International criminal courts), B7-709N (Free and fair elections).

(3) Only the three budget lines B7-701, 702 and 703 are included in the call. In 2001 it is planned to allocate around 50 % of the total appropriations in this chapter to the call for proposals, i.e. around 50 % of the available funding for each of the three budget lines.