WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1853/97 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. Misuse of EU development aid in Guatemala
Date: 1997-05-30
Institutions: European Parliament, HOWITT
Subjects: EU aid, EU financing, Guatemala, aid to refugees, corruption, development aid, ethnic discrimination, humanitarian aid, non-governmental organisation, public health













EUR-Lex - 91997E1853 - EN






Avis juridique important




|



91997E1853

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1853/97 by Richard HOWITT to the Commission. Misuse of EU development aid in Guatemala  


Official Journal C 045 , 10/02/1998 P. 0111 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1853/97 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (30 May 1997)Subject: Misuse of EU development aid in GuatemalaWill the Commission urgently investigate allegations of corruption and misuse of EU funds against a 125 MECU health project working in Salacuim in the Altaverapaz Department of Guatemala?Was the Commission aware that the local NGO Pastoral Sociale had dismissed all nine of its indigenous staff, that its Otarde Section is known for its hostility to indigenous communities, and that the organization had no previous experience of health projects?What experience has the apparent European partner, Movimundo of Italy, to undertake this work and which other EU projects has this organization participated in?Will the Commission immediately suspend consideration of increasing assistance of up to 1 MECU for the southern Las Conchas area, until satisfactory answers have been provided to all of the above?Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission (20 June 1997)Three Community-funded projects are at present being executed by the Italian non governmental (NGO) Molisv-Movimondo in Guatemala, one of them in the framework of Humanitarian Aid and two in the framework of aid to uprooted populations. Molisv-Movimondo has been the implementing partner of other Community funded projects in Nicaragua, to the entire satisfaction of both the Commission and the beneficiaries.The local NGO Otarde is in fact a partner in the implementation of the humanitarian project. This organisation enjoys a very good reputation in Guatemala, both with beneficiary populations and international agencies, such as the United Nations High commissioner for refugees(UNHCR), and the Commission was never informed of any accusations of the kind reported by the Honourable Member. On the contrary, its activities have been regularly scrutinised by the Commission's office in Guatemala. No remarks, either concerning a purported hostility to indigenous staff or any other misdemeanours, were made.The Commission has been informed of a conflict between some workers and the Bishop of Verapaces. However, this labour conflict is entirely alien to the above-mentioned Community-funded projectAs part of its effort to assist Guatemala in its pacification process, the Commission is examining at present the possibility of funding another project to be implemented jointly by Molisv-Movimondo and a European NGO in co-operation with Otarde and other local organisations, although for a region different from that mentioned by the Honourable Member.Should evidence of any misuse of funds be provided or found, the Commission will of course take immediate action. However, at the present stage, the Commission feels that no reproaches whatsoever can be made of the organisations mentioned by the Honourable Member.