WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2009/98 by Fernando FERNÁNDEZ MARTÍN to the Commission. Situation in the north of Mali
Date: 1998-06-30
Institutions: European Parliament, FERNANDEZ MARTIN
Subjects: EU financing, European Development Fund, Mali, development plan, food aid, management of resources, non-governmental organisation, peacekeeping

18.1.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 13/135

activities (1) and Article 59 of the EC Treaty). In addition, the Commission is preparing a questionnaire which will
be circulated shortly to all interested parties.

(1) OJ L 298, 17.10.1989.

(1999/C 13/190)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2009/98

by Fernando FernÆndez Mart(cid:237)n (PPE) to the Commission

Subject: Situation in the north of Mali

(30 June 1998)

What are the Commission(cid:146)s development projects for the north of Mali and what progress has been made to date?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 1998)

The Community is still the main development partner in northern Mali.

Current operations in the region under the 7th EDF National Indicative Programme total ECU 22 million. They
cover economic regeneration and the conservation of natural and productive resources (project to combat sand
encroachment, development programme for livestock regions, support for the (cid:145)CrØdit Initiative(cid:146)) and the
rehabilitation of social facilities (primary schools and health training) and economic infrastructure. The
programme of microprojects works on the fringes of specific projects to help achieve these objectives.
Institutional support is being given in the form of budget support to the northern administration (via the
counterpart funds from the structural adjustment support programme) and technical assistance with coordinating
aid to northern regions (team based in Gao).

A new ECU 1,85 million financing decision for a programme of institutional support to coordinate development
operations in the north of the country is in the pipeline. It should help increase the planning and coordination
capabilities of the relevant authorities and harmonise the operational approaches of the various bodies working in
the region.

At the end of 1996, the Commission took a decision to approve budget funding (from the (cid:145)food security and food
aid(cid:146) heading) to help ensure a lasting peace and to assist with post-conflict rebuilding through a number of food
security support schemes. The decision, worth ECU 2 million over 18 months, aims to assist with the resettlement
of communities who were left destitute, displaced or refugeed by the fighting. Taking an approach designed to
equip various sites in turn (repair of stand pumps, reintroduction of productive activities such as stock breeding
and market gardening), these schemes are being carried out by NGOs already working in the region.

Again in northern Mali, the Commission is carrying out operations totalling some ECU 7 million (1996 to mid-
1998) in three priority areas: health, water and food. An extra ECU 5 million should ensure that these activities
can continue from July 1998 onwards.

(1999/C 13/191)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2012/98

by JosØ ApolinÆrio (PSE) to the Commission

(30 June 1998)

Subject: Role of Eurostat in drawing up Agenda 2000

Has Eurostat been taken into account in the drawing-up of the proposals for the Structural Fund regulations?