WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2740/97 by Nel van DIJK to the Commission. The implementation of the Democracy Programme under TACIS and PHARE is in danger
Date: 1997-07-30
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN DIJK
Subjects: Central and Eastern Europe, EU aid, EU office or agency, EU programme, aid system, award of contract, democratisation, human rights, non-governmental organisation

C 76/134

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

11. 3. 98

4.
It  is  not  at  present  envisaged  to  provide  financing  from  Meda  for  local  authorities  to  participate  in
ECOS-Ouverture. This question will be examined in the light of progress made on relaunching the decentralised
cooperation programmes.

(98/C 76/253)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2740/97

by Nel van Dijk (V) to the Commission

(30 July 1997)

Subject: The implementation of the Democracy Programme under TACIS and PHARE is in danger

With  respect  to  the  implementation  of  programmes  involving  expenditure  in  excess  of  ECU  300  000,  the
European  Commission  must  issue  a  call  for  tenders  every  three  years.  However,  three  and  a  half  years  have
already  elapsed  since  the  European  Human  Rights  Foundation  was  entrusted  with  the  implementation  of  the
Democracy Programme under PHARE and TACIS. Last year, just before the three-year period came to an end, a
new call for tenders was issued, but none of the bidders was awarded the contract. During the last six months, the
European  Human  Rights  Foundation  was  awarded  two  short-term  contracts  which  expire  on  31  July  1997.
Apparently, those contracts will not be renewed.

1.

Can the Commission say what the result was of the call for tenders issued last year?

Can it indicate why the short-term contracts concluded with the European Human Rights Foundation are

2.
not being renewed?

Can  the  Commission  say  whether  another  body  will  be  taking  over  the  monitoring  and  support  role

3.
currently played by the European Human Rights Foundation?

4.
If  not,  does  the  Commission  agree  with  me  that  it  is  unacceptable  that  these  internal  administrative
problems  should  have  a  major  impact  on  the  day-to-day  activities  of  the  many  NGOs  which,  despite  their
contractual  entitlement  to  financing  under  the  PHARE  and  TACIS  Programmes,  may  well  find  themselves
without funds as from 31 July since no authority exists which can draw up their contracts or assess their interim
communications?

5.

6.

How does the Commission think the NGOs should solve these problems?

Can the Commission indicate how long this situation is likely to last?

7.
Does the Commission agree that the problems involving the PHARE and TACIS Programmes may confirm
the man in the street(cid:146)s general impression that the European Commission is an exceptionally bureaucratic body?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 1997)

The Phare and Tacis democracy programmes are implemented by the Commission, which has sought external
support. That assistance has been provided by the European human rights foundation (EHRF). This arrangement
will last until May 1998. This guarantees that contracts for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are prepared
without discontinuity.

A tender was launched last year to provide assistance not only to the democracy programme but also to the Lien
and partnership and coordination programmes which are facilities financed through Phare and Tacis. No bid was
judged to meet the needs of the Commission, and it was following this that the arrangements with the EHRF have
continued.

On  the  basis  of  an  evaluation  which  will  be  finalised  this  autumn,  the  Commission  is  examining  how  the
management of the democracy programmes, and those for human rights support, should take place.

The  Commission  is  conscious  that  the  contractual  arrangements  for  NGOs  can  appear  burdensome,  and  is
seeking ways whereby sound and efficient management may be combined with a caring and more streamlined
approach to non-governmental organisations.