WRITTEN QUESTION No. 517/98 by Paul RÜBIG to the Commission. 8th European Development Fund
Date: 1998-03-02
Institutions: European Parliament, RUEBIG
Subjects: ACP countries, EU Member State, European Development Fund, economic development, financial cooperation, fourth Lomé Convention, signature of an agreement, technical cooperation

2. 10. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 304/123

(98/C 304/184)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0516/98

by Paul Ru¤ big (PPE) to the Council

(27 February 1998)

Subject: 8th European Development Fund

Under the Lome· IV Convention the eighth European Development Fund was to have been launched at the end of
1997. It is to be used for financial and technical cooperation in removing structural imbalances in the countries
benefiting  from  the  Lome· Convention.  The  emphasis  has  been  placed  on  poverty  alleviation,  training  and
industrialization,  but  also  on  health,  the  improvement  of  competitiveness  and  agriculture.  For  the  first  time
Austria was also to participate in this programme.

However, it proved impossible to launch the eighth European Development Fund on the appointed date, and its
launch continues to be delayed because not all the Member States on the European Council have ratified the plan.

Can the Council describe the substantive reasons for this delay?

When, in the Council(cid:146)s view, is the plan likely to be finally ratified?

Answer

(18 May 1998)

Pursuant  to  Article  360(1)  of  the  Fourth  Lome· Convention,  as  revised  by  the  Mauritius  Agreement  of
4 November 1995, the Convention will come into force on the first day of the second month following the date of
deposit of the instruments of ratification of the Member States and of at least two thirds of the ACP States, and of
the act of notification of the conclusion of the Convention by the Community.

This condition has now been fulfilled both by the ACP States and by the fifteen Member States. At its meeting on
27  April  1998,  the  Council  adopted  the  Decision  concerning  the  conclusion  of  the  Agreement  amending  the
Fourth Lome· Convention. The revised Convention will therefore come into force on 1 June 1998.

(98/C 304/185)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0517/98

by Paul Ru¤ big (PPE) to the Commission

(2 March 1998)

Subject: 8th European Development Fund

Under the Lome· IV Convention the eighth European Development Fund was to have been launched at the end of
1997. It is to be used for financial and technical cooperation in removing structural imbalances in the countries
benefiting  from  the  Lome· Convention.  The  emphasis  has  been  placed  on  poverty  alleviation,  training  and
industrialization,  but  also  on  health,  the  improvement  of  competitiveness  and  agriculture.  For  the  first  time
Austria was also to participate in this programme.

However, it proved impossible to launch the eighth European Development Fund on the appointed date, and its
launch continues to be delayed because not all the Member States on the European Council have ratified the plan.

Can the Commission describe the substantive reasons for this delay?

When, in the Commission(cid:146)s view, is the plan likely to be finally ratified?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(27 March 1998)

The Commission shares the Honourable Member(cid:146)s concerns over the delay in the start of the 8th EDF, which is
the Community(cid:146)s main source of aid funding for the ACP countries for the period 1995-2000.