WRITTEN QUESTION P-3107/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Human rights and democracy in Nigeria.
Date: 2000-09-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Nigeria, budget, democracy, human rights

C 113 E/244

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

18.4.2001

This situation has implied in particular that neither the Commission nor the Member States have as yet
identified any circumstances relating to the operation of the Directive which call
for revision. The
Commission will keep this situation under review.

This report provides some summary information on how the Greek authorities have implemented
Directive 97/9/EC and the main features of the scheme as regards identity of the scheme (Athens Stock
Exchange Members(cid:146) Guarantee Fund), level of cover (20 000 € in accordance with Article 4), coverage of
credit institutions, form of contributions from participating firms, and types of service which are exempted
from the scheme in accordance with annex 1 of the Directive.

(2001/C 113 E/267)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3107/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(27 September 2000)

Subject: Human rights and democracy in Nigeria

Would the Commission clarify how support for human rights and democracy in Nigeria will be given
without access to the previous budget line which was in place for Nigeria?

Will levels of funding be maintained and will commitment for creating a Human Rights Foundation, such
as the EC has supported in South Africa, be continued?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2000)

The promotion of human rights and democracy in Nigeria is continuing under budget heading B7-7020
(human rights and democracy in developing countries including the ACP), as is the case for all other ACP
countries except southern Africa, which comes under heading 7021. These appropriations are intended to
support an incentive-based approach. Measures to promote human rights and democracy can also be
financed from the European Development Fund, and this is done in other countries. Three projects worth
a total of € 1,7 million are in the pipeline for Nigeria under heading B7-7020 of the budget for 2000, the
intended beneficiaries being civil society and the prison system. A fourth project worth € 310 000 under
budget heading B7-7020A will provide technical assistance.

The Commission is aware of Nigeria(cid:146)s political and geographical significance but feels that the quality of
human rights projects selected for that country needs to be enhanced, among other things by extending
and strengthening technical assistance in the field. The volume of aid depends on the quality of the
projects submitted for financing, and the quality of the projects being put forward for Nigeria either
spontaneously or as a result of the call for proposals issued in June last year has been disappointing.

The Commission did set up a Human Rights Foundation in South Africa in 1996 but
feels the
circumstances in that case were different. The foundation itself has changed; it is now a South African
NGO responsible for implementing the Community(cid:146)s human rights programme in South Africa but is also
eligible for funds from Member States and local bodies and no longer receives technical assistance from the
Commission.

In line with Parliament(cid:146)s recommendations the Commission took a decision on 16 May to press ahead
with the dismantling of technical assistance offices (TAOs) involved in external relations programmes. This
important step in reforming the management of external aid is not really consistent with the creation of a
new human rights foundation in Nigeria.