PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY AND THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES ( UNRWA ) CONCERNING AID TO REFUGEES IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE NEAR EAST
Date: 1989-12-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Middle East, UNRWA, food aid, refugee

COMMISSION  OF  THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

C0NC89) 664 

final 

Brussels, 19  December 1989 

Proposal tor a 

COUNCIL DECISION 

on the conclusion of the Convention between the 
European Economic Community and the United Nations 
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees  (UNRWA) 
concerning  aid to refugees  In the countries of the Near East 

(presented by the Commission) 

MB*.;, „'i .*& • 

Explanatory Memorandum 

The  Commission  made  proposals  to  the  Council  in May  1989  (1)  for  a 
mandate  to open negotiations  for  the renewal  of  the Convention  between 
the EEC and UNRWA, which  Is due to expire on 31 December  1989. 

In accordance with  the decision of the General Affairs Council of 
3 October  1989, the Commission negotiated on 13 October  1989 with UNWRA 
the  text  of  the  proposed  new  EEC/UNRWA  Convention  for  the  period 
1990/1992. 

As  compared  with  the  current  Convention  the  main  changes  in  the 
proposed  text,  in conformity  with  the directives  for  negotiation, are 
as fol low : 

The cash contribution  towards the cost of UNRWA's education and health 
programmes  (Including the supplementary  feeding programme) shall  be ecu 
25.4 million for 1990, ecu 26.7 million for 1991 and ecu 28 million for 
1992 (Article 2, para 1). The  inclusion of a specific yearly amount for 
the  supplementary  feeding  programme  is also  new,  as  are  its explicit 
inclusion  in  the  health  programme  and  the  Inclusion  of  a  separate 
quantity  for  the health  programme. This  is also  reflected  In articles 
1, 2, 3, 2.4, 3.2 and 3.3. 

UNRWA  are happy with the form and the content of  the proposed  text and 
they are ready to sign the Convention as soon as possible. 

The  financial  Implications of  the action  proposed  are  set  out  in the 
financial annex. 

Action proposed 

The Commission  therefore proposes that the Council  adopt : 

1)  the  Convention  between  the  European  Economic  Community  and  the 
United  Nations  Relief  and  Works  Agency  for  Palestine  Refugees, 
attached, and 

2)  the decision concluding  that Convention, also attached. 

(1) SEC (89) 724/3 

COUNCIL DECISION 

Of 

on  the conclusion of  the Convention between  the 
European  Economic Community  and the United  Nations 
Relief  and Works Agency  for Palestine Refugees  (UNRWA) 
concerning  aid  to refugees  In the countries of  the Near  East 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES, 

- 2 -

Article 2 

Questions relating  to the execution of  the Community  programme  of food 
aid  to UNRWA  shall  be governed  by  the procedure  defined  In Regulation 
(EEC)  N°  3972/86  or,  If  appropriate,  by  any  regulation  on  food  aid 
repealing and replacing  it. 

Article 3 

The  President  of  the  Council  is  hereby  authorized  to  designate  the 
persons  empowered  to  sign  the  Convention  In  order  to  bind  the 
Community. 

Done at Brussels, 

For the CounclI, 

The President 

CONVENTION 

BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY  AND 

THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY 

FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES  (UNRWA) 

CONCERNING AID TO REFUGEES 

IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE NEAR EAST 

ARTICLE  1 

Desirous  of  continuing  its  aid  to  Palestine  Refugees,  the  European 
Economic  Community  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  "the  Community")  hereby 
concludes  this  Convention  with  the  United  Nations  Relief  and  Works 
Agency  for  Palestine  Refugees  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  "UNRWA")  in 
order  to  confirm  its  commitment  to  a  programme  of  aid  to  UNRWA.  This 
aid  shall  take  the  form  of  contributions  In  kind  or  In  cash  extending 
over  a  three-year  period  for  use  under  the  UNRWA  education,  health  and 
feeding  programmes. 

ARTICLE  2 

1.  The  Community  shall  pay  to  UNRWA  annually  a  cash  contribution 
towards  the  cost  of  the  education  and  health  programmes,  including 
the  supplementary  feeding  programme.  The  size  of  this  contribution 
shall  be: ecu  21  million  In  1990, ecu  22 million  in  1991  and  ecu  23 
million  in  1992  for  the  education  programme-,  ecu  1 million  In 1990, 
ecu  2  million  in  1991  and  ecu  3  million  in  1992  for  the  health 
programme;  and  ecu  3.4  million  in  1990, ecu  2.7  million  in  1991  and 
ecu  2.0  million  in  1992  for  the  supplementary  feeding  programme 
(which  is  a  part  of  the  health  programme).  The  distribution  of 
these 
the 
health 
supplementary  -feeding  programme)  will  be  amenable  to  adjustment 
each  year  depending  on  evidence  of  real  needs. 

amounts  within 

(including 

programme 

the 

2.  UNRWA  shall  send  the  Community  each  year  a  report  on  the  use  made 
of  the  Community  contribution.  UNRWA  shall  also  provide  the 
Community  with  all  the  documentation  relating  to  the  execution  of 
the  education  and  health  programmes,  Including  the  supplementary 
feeding  programme;  the  detailed  accounts  of  expenditure;  and 
budgetary  estimates  of  future  expenditure  and  the  yearly  statistics 
of  the  UNRWA  Departments  of  Education  and  Health. 

3.  UNRWA  shall  inform  the  Community  of  any  significant  changes  planned 

for  the  education  or  health  services  provided  by  the  Agency. 

4.  In  the  event  of  any  significant  changes  in  the  education  or  health 
services  provided  by  UNRWA  during  the  period  of  validity  of  this 
Convention,  the  Community  reserves  the  right  to  give  its  approval 
to  the  use  made  of  the  funds  it  is making  available  to  UNRWA. 

ARTICLE  3 

Aid  for  the  feeding  programmes 

1.  The  Community  shall  contribute  in  kind  or  in  cash  to  the  various 
UNRWA  feeding  programmes  (the  programme  for  distribution  of  rations  to 
special  hardship  cases,  the  feeding  In  training  centres  programme  and 
the  supplementary  feeding  programme). 

2.  The  size  and  form  of  the  Community  contribution  to  these  programmes 
and  the  conditions  on  which  aid  is  granted  shall  be  determined  by  the 
Community  each  year  in  the  framework  of  its  food  aid  programmes,  on  the 
basis  of  the  requests  submitted  by  UNRWA,  with  the  exception  of  the 
supplementary  feeding  programme  (included  within  the  health  programme) 
which  will  amount  to  ecu  3.4  million  In  1990, ecu  2.7  million  In  1991, 
and  ecu  2.0  million  in  1992, subject  to  yearly  adjustments  as  specified 
in art icle  2.1. 

3.  The  Community  shall  pay  the  following  contributions  in cash  to 
UNRWA  for  the  feeding  programmes  : 

a sum  as a contribution  to  the operating  costs  of  the  supplementary 
feeding  programme,  as  indicated, 

a  sum  for  the  purchase  of  products  on  the  Community  market. 
However,  in  the  event  of  an  emergency  or  non-availability  on  the 
Community  market  or  in other  exceptional  cases  after  agreement  by 
the  Community,  the  products  concerned  may  be  purchased  In  the 
developing  countries  or  on  the  local  market, 

a  specific  sum  per  tonne  of  each  product  received  or  purchased  by 
UNRWA  under  the  programme  for  distribution  of  rations  to  special 
hardship  cases  and  the  feeding  in training  centres  programme,  as  a 
contribution  to  transport  and  distribution  costs. 

4.  UNRWA  shall  send  the  Community  in  April  of  each  year  a  report  on 
the  operation  of  the  feeding  programmes,  indicating  in  particular  the 
number,  category  and  location  of  recipients  and  the  services  provided, 
the  cost  of  the  programmes  and  the  use  made  of  Community  contributions 
in kind  and  in cash. 

ARTICLE  4 

Informat Ion 

UNRWA  shall  take  all  reasonable  steps  to  inform  the  Palestine  refugees 
and  the  authorities of  the  host  countries of  the  aid  received  from  the 
Community  and  from  Its Member  States. 

ARTICLE  5 

UNRWA  shall  give  every  facility  to  any  persons  nominated  by  the 
Community  for  the  purpose  of  following  the  Agency's  use  of  the 
Community's  aid<1).  UNRWA  shall  also  provide  such  supplementary 
Information  as may  reasonably  be  requested  by  the persons  so  nominated. 

ARTICLE  6 

Any  questions  arising  out  of  this  Convention  shall  be  settled  by 
consultation  between  the  two parties  at  the  request  of  either  party. 

ARTICLE  7 

Duration of  the  Convention 

This  Convention  shall  cover  a  period  of  three  calendar  years  (1990, 
1991  and  1992). 

(1) The  checks  will  be  carried  out  principally  by  the  Commission 

Delegates  in the various  countries  concerned. 

ARTICLE  8 

This  Convention  Is drawn  up  in duplicate  in  the  Danish,  Dutch,  English, 
French,  German,  Greek,  Italian,  Portuguese  and  Spanish  languages,  each 
version  being  equally  authentic. 

Done  at  Brussels, 

For  the  United  Nations  Relief  an 
Works  Agency  for  Palestine 
Refugees  (UNRWA) 

On  behalf  of  the  Council 
of  the  European  Communities 

Relevant  budgetary  lines 

FINANCIAL  ANNEX 

Food  aid  programme  : Budgetary  lines within  Chapter  92 

Cash  contribution  : Article  926  -  Expenses  resulting  from  the 
EEC/UNRWA  Convention 
Article  959  - Supplementary  aid  to  UNRWA 
(Education  and  health  programmes). 

Description  of  action 

Establishment  of  a new  Convention  between  the  EEC  and  UNRWA  for  the 
allocation  of  food  aid  in kind  and  in cash  for  the Agency's  feeding 
programmes  and  a  cash  contribution  for  the  UNRWA  education  and 
health  programmes  (including  the  supplementary  feeding  programme). 

3.  Legal  base 

Article  235 
Community. 

of  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Economic 

Financial  implications 

Cash  contribution 
(Including  the  supplementary  feeding  programme). 

for  the  Education 

and 

Health 

Programmes 

The  contribution  to  the  UNRWA  education  and  health  programmes 
(including  the  supplementary  feeding  programme)  shall  be  ecu 
25.4  million  for  1990,  ecu  26.7  million  for  1991  and  ecu  28 
million  for  1992,  in  accordance  with  the  decision  of  the 
General  Affairs  Council  of  3 October  1989. 

Contribution  to  Feeding  Programmes 

The  size  and  content  of  the  aid  to UNRWA  for  the  feeding  programmes 
(with  the  exception  of  the  supplementary  feeding  programme,  already 
quantified  in  the  text  of  the  Convention),  will  be  decided,  as  in 
the  past,  following  the  procedure  defined  In Council  Regulation 
(EEC)  3972/86.<1) 

(1) O.J. L370 Of  30.12.1986  p.1 

11_^•„  A  *  w — -^ 

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COM(89) 664 fina^ 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

11 

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ISBN 92-77-56156-4 

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