WRITTEN QUESTION E-1760/99 by Wolfgang Kreissl-Dörfler (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Poles of Rural Development project in Cameroon implemented by DG VIII.
Date: 1999-10-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cameroon, European Development Fund, aid system, development plan, rural development

C 203 E/38

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.7.2000

What action does it intend to take in the wake of this new murder to ensure that the Greeks Cypriots in
the enclave can continue to live there?

Does it consider that a full-scale and permanent observation post can be set up in Rizokarpaso to ensure
the security of the Greek Cypriots in the enclave?

(1) OJ C 132, 28.4.1997, p. 226.

Answer

(24 January 2000)

The Council has not received any official information about the incident to which the Honourable Member
refers. As far as could be ascertained (cid:129) and as the question itself suggests (cid:129) Mr Stelios Charpas(cid:146) violent
death was not related to activities by agents of the regime in control of Northern Cyprus. On the contrary,
it appears that they cooperated with the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus with a view to taking
appropriate action in the wake of Mr Charpas(cid:146) death.

As to the question of setting up an observation post in Rizokarpaso, the Council trusts that the United
Nations will fully consider all the relevant aspects and take the right decision.

(2000/C 203 E/047)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1757/99

by Manuel PØrez `lvarez (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Reorganising DGs XIV and VI

(1 October 1999)

Could the Commission give details of the proposal by President Prodi for a possible reorganisation of the
Commission(cid:146)s Directorate-General VI for Agriculture and Directorate-General XIV for Fisheries into a single
Directorate-General?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 November 1999)

The Commission is, at present, undergoing a major re-organization in order to rationalize and improve the
service which it provides for the European citizen.

This organisation is based on 36 directorates general (DGs) and services, including the Agriculture DG and
the Fisheries DG which remain separate DGs under the responsibility of commissioner Fischler. A new
Director general of the Fisheries DG was appointed on 1 October 1999, which confirms what Mr Fischler
said at his parliamentary hearing in September 1999.

In any future reform of the Commission, attention will of course be paid to views already expressed in the
Parliament on reform matters.

(2000/C 203 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1760/99

by Wolfgang Kreissl-D(cid:246)rfler (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 October 1999)

Subject:

(cid:145)Poles of Rural Development(cid:146) project in Cameroon implemented by DG VIII

Can the Commission state its position on the following points in relation to the (cid:145)Poles of Rural
Development(cid:146) project:

1. What stage (planning, implementation) has the project now reached?

2. Have project assessments been conducted, and if so by whom (internally by Commission departments,

or independently)?

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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3. What consequences has the Commission acknowledged from such assessments? Has project planning
been amended accordingly? If not, why has the outcome of the assessments not been acted on?

4. Does the Commission see it as a potential source of conflict that where a development project is
assessed and restructured, the delegation is both the party inviting tenders and a party itself directly
involved?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(16 November 1999)

The (cid:145)Poles of Rural Development(cid:146) project began in 1991 in the Bafut region and in the Sa(cid:146)a, Ntui and
SangmØlima regions at the end of 1992 (financing agreement under the Third LomØ Convention, 6th
European Development Fund (EFD), amounting to a total of € 10,3 million).

This general approach stresses the importance of teaching people to manage the development of their own
community with a view to improving their living conditions and the environment.

During 1997 and 1998 a temporary programme was set up in the Sa(cid:146)a, Ntui et SangmØlima poles, to link
the current project to a second four-year phase. It stressed in particular the project(cid:146)s viability and the
management of agricultural projects and socio-economic infrastructures.

The Commission and the national authorising officer agreed to an evaluation at the half-way stage in
1995, and a further evaluation at the end of the temporary programme (1997/1998) in November 1998.
They contracted the work out to international consultancy firms on the basis of a restricted consultation.

The evaluations have shown that the project has had a positive effect on the communities involved, since
participation has helped them take charge of their own micro-projects. Nevertheless, further efforts need to
be made to achieve a satisfactory level of participation and to prepare the people better to take control of
their communities.

On the basis of the results of the independent consultancies(cid:146) evaluations, particular emphasis has been
placed on viability and the management of agricultural projects and socio-economic infrastructures. The
project activities were planned and monitored under two sub-programmes, ongoing actions and new
actions.

No potential source of conflict exists, due to the fact that in the case of independent evaluations where the
project is then altered, while the delegation awards the contract on behalf of the national authority, the
latter is still the contracting authority.

The results of the evaluation are examined by the Commission delegation and the government, and when
the recommendations are pertinent, the changes can be introduced by financial procedures.

(2000/C 203 E/049)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1762/99

by Luis Berenguer Fuster (PSE)
and Mar(cid:237)a Rodr(cid:237)guez Ramos (PSE) to the Commission

(11 October 1999)

Subject: Effects for consumers of the merger of the Carrefour and Promodes companies

The planned merger between the Carrefour and Promodes companies is giving rise to great concern
among both suppliers and consumers who fear that it will create or strengthen a dominant position in
certain key retail markets.

The merger will affect a large number of significant geographical markets, and the effects of competition
will need to be analysed in all those market with homogeneous competition conditions. This means that
consideration will have to be given both to regional markets and to districts in which the undertakings