WRITTEN QUESTION E-1321/00 by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council. Hunger relief in Ethiopia and other African countries.
Date: 2000-05-03
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Africa, EU aid, Ethiopia, hunger

C 72 E/44

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

6.3.2001

In December 1999 the Commission decided, in light of the above, to revise its original approach,
2.
and submitted a proposal for a Regulation aimed at continuing the system on the basis of 50-50 funding
by the Community and the Member States.

At its meeting on 20 and 21 March 2000 the Council held a wide-ranging policy debate on the
3.
Commission proposal, pending the Opinion of the European Parliament; among other things, it emerged
from that debate that there are still some very major objections to the funding system proposed by the
Commission; in addition, some comments were made on technical questions.

is aware of the political and social

The Council
importance of the dossier raised by the Honourable
Member, and will shortly be resuming its examination of the matter in the light of the Opinion delivered
by the European Parliament on 3 May 2000, in which the Parliament declared itself in favour of the
Commission proposal, as amended in particular on the point relating to the funding mechanism.

(2001/C 72 E/048)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1321/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Council

Subject: Hunger relief in Ethiopia and other African countries

(3 May 2000)

The Cairo summit bringing together the EU and the countries of Africa coincided with an outbreak of
hunger that is currently affecting millions of people in the neighbouring continent, especially in Ethiopia.
This dramatic state of affairs has already been denounced by the UN and by NGOs and the media.

In Ethiopia, the lives of 2 m people are in jeopardy thanks to the drought and the war with Eritrea. What
action is the EU taking to relieve this tragic situation, as a matter of urgency? Will the EU in fact be willing
to agree on a humanitarian action, without flinching from the necessary intervention, and pressing
Ethiopia and Eritrea to accept means of
food distribution that use the most effective channels of
communication available?

Reply

(26 September 2000)

The Council has repeatedly condemned the senseless outbreak of renewed fighting between Ethiopia and
Eritrea. Recalling the responsibility of any government for the welfare of its people, it deplores the fact that
against a background of severe food crisis in the region precious resources are being diverted for the
conflict. The Council accordingly welcomes the arms embargo on the two countries which was adopted
unanimously by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1298 and would recall its own decision
on an arms embargo which has been in force since 15 March 1999.

The Council hopes that the contacts with Ethiopia and Eritrea under OAU auspices which are presently
being conducted will bear substantive results and declares the EU(cid:146)s readiness to support the peace efforts
under OAU chairmanship, including through the mission of the EU special representative, Senator SERRI.

The Council confirms EU willingness to continue to provide emergency humanitarian aid carefully targeted
to the people most seriously in need in order to avoid any possible diversion of the aid. Such aid is
decided following the regulatory procedures in force by the Commission who could provide more detailed
information on specific actions undertaken.