WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2020/96 by Luciano VECCHI to the Commission. Involvement by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of EU Member States in development activities in the Republic of South Africa
Date: 1996-07-19
Institutions: European Parliament, VECCHI
Subjects: EU aid, South Africa, action programme, budget, development plan, financing plan, international organisation, non-governmental organisation













EUR-Lex - 91996E2020 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91996E2020

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2020/96 by Luciano VECCHI to the Commission. Involvement by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of EU Member States in development activities in the Republic of South Africa  


Official Journal C 365 , 04/12/1996 P. 0068 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-2020/96 by Luciano Vecchi (PSE) to the Commission (19 July 1996)Subject: Involvement by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of EU Member States in development activities in the Republic of South AfricaIn recent years the Commission has systematically refused European NGOs access to Community support for the activities they undertake in the Republic of South Africa.Does the Commission intend to change its attitude as regards either the European programme for reconstruction and development in South Africa or access to the co-financing reserved for NGOs for development activities in South Africa?Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (24 September 1996)The Commission policy is based on full cooperation with European non governmental organizations (NGOs) and support for their projects eligible for funding from the general budget of the Community. In fact in 1994 the European special programme (budget line B7-5070, predecessor to budget line B7-3200, European programme for reconstruction and development (EPRD)) supported a project implemented by Médecins du monde.In 1995 the Commission contributed 15 MECU to the Transitional national development trust (TNDT), an umbrella organisation established for channelling EPRD funds to NGOs, without specific reference either to South African or to European NGOs. European NGOs can therefore present their project proposals to the TNDT.As far as the NGO cofinancing line (B7-6000) is concerned, European NGO projects have become eligible since the addition of South Africa to the list of developing countries by the Organization for economic co-operation and development earlier this year. This will become fully effective once NGOs are informed of the new situation.In this connection, it should be remembered that the EPRD, financed out of the funds earmarked for South Africa, opens the way for significant and important involvement of South African NGOs, as well as other decentralised agents of development. Of the total funding in 1995, more than half benefitted NGOs in one way or another, (including decentralised agents and including the 15 MECU for TNDT mentioned above), or was managed with them playing a central role.In view of this and of the overall important role already played by South African NGOs in the development of their country, the selection of European NGO applications for co-financing will focus in particular on those projects supporting the programmes and the institutional building of their South African partners.