WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4033/98 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ EU aid for Somalia and Ethiopia
Date: 1999-01-08
Institutions: BLOCH VON BLOTTNITZ, European Parliament
Subjects: ACP countries, EU aid, Ethiopia, Lomé Convention, Somalia, Stabex, cooperation agreement, development aid, investment aid, trade cooperation

12.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 325/49

Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission

(24 February 1999)

The Community has already part-financed substantial infrastructure works on the Greek islands in the Aegean
Sea to solve problems relating to water, particularly drinking water. This part-finance has been provided
through the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes, the Community support frameworks for 1989-93 and
1994-99, the special measures for these islands and certain Community Initiatives.

The bulk of these works concern traditional facilities such as dams, rainwater collectors, pipes for drinking
water and irrigation networks; they are normally regarded as preferable to desalination since, in most cases,
they also help solve the problem of water for irrigation by providing adequate quantities of good quality water
at an acceptable price.

If proposals relating to the methods referred to by the Honourable Member were put forward by the Greek
authorities, the Commission would consider them under the current programmes in the light of alternative
solutions, other priorities and the budgetary resources available.

Again, if the Greek authorities so request and budgetary resources are available, the Cohesion Fund is still
willing to part-finance water-supply projects on the Aegean islands, as it has already done on Mytilene and
Crete.

It should be noted that this Fund has already financed a study on coordinated measures for the environment on
Santorini and Thirassia so that the Greek authorities can submit to the Commission an application for finance
for an integrated pilot project including measures relating to water supply, the production of drinking water by
desalination, the treatment of waste water and waste disposal. If this pilot project succeeds, it may provide an
example of how other islands could find permanent and reliable solutions to their problems.

(1999/C 325/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4033/98

by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission

Subject: EU aid for Somalia and Ethiopia

(8 January 1999)

1.

Are there any EU aid programmes in support of projects in Somalia and/or Ethiopia?

If so, what programmes? What projects have been or are being supported, and what level of funding is

2.
involved?

Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission

(1 March 1999)

The Community gives development aid to the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries under
the Lomé Convention, an association agreement to which both Somalia and Ethiopia are party.

The Lomé Convention comprises a financial package, special arrangements for trade cooperation and
investment promotion, and a scheme to stabilise commodity export earnings (Stabex). Using this instrument,
the Community finances projects in both Somalia and Ethiopia.

To provide the fullest possible information on its aid programmes the Commission is sending copies of the
latest annual reports covering its activities in Somalia and Ethiopia for the year 1997 direct to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.