WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4115/97 by Yves VERWAERDE to the Commission. Involving civil society more closely in the EU's partnership with the ACP countries
Date: 1998-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, VERWAERDE
Subjects: ACP countries, company constituted under civil law, democracy, fourth Lomé Convention, human rights, management, rule of law, shareholding, socioeconomic conditions

C 187/126

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

16. 6. 98

The Commission is not aware of any restrictions on the residence of crew members or the unloading of fishing
vessels flying the French flag as referred to by the Honourable Member in his written question.

The new Law No 97-1051 on marine fishing and seafood cultivation contains no such restrictions.

If supplementary provisions were to be introduced by the French authorities, the Commission would check to
ensure that they comply with Community law as interpreted by the Court of Justice.

(98/C 187/197)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4115/97

by Yves Verwaerde (PPE) to the Commission

(16 January 1998)

Subject: Involving civil society more closely in the EU(cid:146)s partnership with the ACP countries

What policy and actions does the Commission propose to pursue to encourage the participation of civil society in
the ACP countries, given that civil society does not consist solely of NGOs but embraces all sectors, both public
and private, where the organized population participates in the operation of society as a whole?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 1998)

Over the last 15 months the Commission has engaged in an intensive public debate on the challenges and options
for a new partnership between the Community and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states with a view
to the next settlement of the revised Lome IV Convention. Resulting from this debate, the emphasis lies on the
strengthening  of  the  participation  of  civil  society  by  making  (cid:145)accessibility(cid:146)  a  basic  principle  of  the  new
partnership, allowing actors of the state and of civil society to be included in the dialogue on policies as well as in
the participation in cooperation actions.

There  is  an  emphasis  on  the  political  dimension  of  the  new  partnership  with  the  respect  of  human  rights,
democratic principles, rule of law and good governance as essential elements, to allow citizens full participation
in all aspects of society; to defend their interests, participate in decision making and public resource management
and to develop an active and organized civil society. Widening the partnership should go beyond the current
provisions of the Lome Convention to a participative partnership in decision making.

Responsibilization of the actors in decision making and management of cooperation and the strengthening of
their capacities are two major Community objectives for all domains of cooperation. An accent will be put on the
strengthening of democratic and participative structures and in general on the organization of economic, social
and civil society(cid:146)s actors at the national, local or regional level.

Support will be provided for the elaboration and implementation of growth and employment strategies by the
ACP states with active participation of the economic and social actors concerned. Support for the strengthening
of human resources and the encouragement of dialogue between the government, business organizations and
social and other organizations of civil society and the strengthening of participation and the development of a
social dialogue in a more focused way between the social partners is envisaged.

The  organisations  of  civil  society  and  the  existing  social  actors  will  be  supported  by  strengthening
socio-economic institutions, free and independent medias, putting into place a legal and regulatory environment
favourable to private initiative, reinforcing political pluralism, and supporting the existence and efficiency of
institutions  defending  human  rights  and  programmes  of  civic  education.  Institutional  support  and  the
development of capacities and skills of the actors of partnership is envisaged in a systematic manner, particularly
with regard to the representation of economic and social actors and the concertation of civil society, the training
of decision makers of civil society and the establishment of training capacities.