WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1004/96 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. EU development programmes in South America
Date: 1996-04-26
Institutions: European Parliament, HOWITT
Subjects: South America, development plan, economic cooperation, generalised preferences, opinion poll, proposal (EU), trade cooperation













EUR-Lex - 91996E1004 - EN






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91996E1004

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1004/96 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. EU development programmes in South America  


Official Journal C 297 , 08/10/1996 P. 0066 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1004/96 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (26 April 1996)Subject: EU development programmes in South AmericaCan the Commission outline decisions, communications and agreements it is seeking to initiate in relation to the countries of South America, either individually or en blocs, during the next two years, together with an indicative timetable when these may be completed?What arrangements is the Commission making to ensure that development principles underlie these initiatives, and that there is full consultation with civil society, including trade unions, women's groups and indigenous communities within the countries concerned?Answer given by Mr Marín on behalf of the Commission (30 May 1996)The Commission's current work programme with regard to the European Union's relations with Latin America was determined by the Madrid European Council on 15 and 16 December 1995. It provides for implementation of the conclusions concerning cooperation between the two regions in the period 1996-2000, the negotiation of agreements with Chile and Mexico, the presentation of appropriate measures to strengthen relations with the Andean Pact, renewal of the generalized scheme of preferences and the submission of draft negotiating directives for a trade and economic cooperation agreement with Cuba.The ultimate objective of the agreement with Chile, scheduled for signature on 22 June 1996 in Florence, is a political and economic association. The proposed negotiating brief for a future 'political, economic and trade' agreement with Mexico is currently being considered by the Council and Parliament.The initiatives taken by the Commission are governed by the development principles that are contained in the legal bases for its activities which are to be found in the treaties, were reiterated in Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 ((OJ L 52, 27.2.1992. )) and underlie the communication on new guidelines for cooperation with Latin America. ((Doc. COM(95) 495 final. )) The preparation of such initiatives is a lengthy process which, in addition to consultations within the Commission and approval by the European institutions concerned, entails active involvement on the part of a variety of organized groupings such as trade unions, women, indigenous communities and other manifestations of civil society in the countries concerned by means of studies, preliminary enquiries conducted among the population groups targeted and seminars.Secondly, the involvement of civil society is fundamental to the horizontal programmes such as ALFA, AL-Invest, and, in the near future, Alure and Urbs-Al, in that they are based on the principle of partnership.