WRITTEN QUESTION E-1998/00 by Didier Rod (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. DG I contracts involving subsidies to Brazilian NGOs.
Date: 2000-06-21
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Brazil, EU environmental policy, Latin America, non-governmental organisation

6.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 72 E/165

(2001/C 72 E/210)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1998/00

by Didier Rod (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: DG I contracts involving subsidies to Brazilian NGOs

(21 June 2000)

Three years ago the Commission (DG I) signed a number of contracts with Brazilian NGOs operating in
the area of the environment. Since those contracts were signed, no further information and no funds have
been forwarded to the intended beneficiaries (e.g. Ecotropica, an NGO operating in Mato Grosso State
(Contract No BR97/023/B7-E201/04) and WWF Brazil, in Brasilia).

Can the Commission explain the reasons for this delay and give an account of its policy on environmental
protection and NGOs in the countries of Latin America? Can it state what action it will take in honouring
the above contracts?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(28 July 2000)

The Commission has not signed contracts with Brazilian environmental non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) for any of the projects mentioned, or for others in the same (cid:145)package(cid:146). Thus there is as yet no
contractual obligation with the partner NGOs for the implementation of the project proposals.

The proposals in question were accepted in principle for financing. They form part of a package which
includes the NGO projects and a technical assistance facility for co-ordination, the latter requiring a formal
agreement with the Brazilian government. The unconventional design of the project has led to difficulties
on both sides in finalising arrangements. The package will be re-examined in the near future by the
Commission with a view to deciding the most appropriate course of action.

The Commission has financed a large number of NGO activities in Latin America dealing with environ-
mental actions, mainly through the tropical forests, environment and NGO co-financing lines. Last year
over € 22 million of NGO projects in Brazil were funded through the NGO co-financing line alone. The
role of civil society in environmental protection and sustainable development is widely recognised in Latin
America and in the Commission(cid:146)s policy. Amongst examples of projects funded by the Commission are the
COAMA project in the Colombian Amazon (winner of the Right Livelihood award in 1999), and a project
with a Brazilian NGO to protect the uncontacted Indians of the Javari area in Brazil.

(2001/C 72 E/211)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2001/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 June 2000)

Subject: Lack of information from European railway operators in international train timetables

Cross-border passenger train connections between European Union countries are often underused.
1.
The sharp increase in traffic on such journeys is accounted for mainly by car and air travel, not by trains.
The reasons include the (cid:145)premiums(cid:146) charged by railway operators over and above their standard fares on
cross-border services and the poor availability of timetabling information from railway operators in
countries other than their own. Does the Commission agree that it would be desirable for as many as
possible of the existing obstacles to cross-border passenger travel by train to be removed?