WRITTEN QUESTION E-3700/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. Malawi.
Date: 2000-11-29
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Malawi, common foreign and security policy, corruption, development aid

19.6.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 174 E/117

The Honourable Member is no doubt aware that it is the legal responsibility of the Member States to
implement these environmental and fishing rules and to ensure compliance with them.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1239/98 of 8 June 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 894/97 laying down certain

technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources, OJ L 171, 17.6.1998.

(2) Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora,

OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 174 E/120)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3698/00

by Torben Lund (PSE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Porpoise by-catches

By letter dated 3 May 2000 the Commission was called upon by 41 organisations in 18 countries to
intervene against porpoise by-catches.

How did the Commission reply to this appeal, and does it intend to take the actions proposed therein?

Answer given by Mrs Wallstr(cid:246)m on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2001)

The concerns raised in the letter mentioned by the Honourable Member were brought to the attention of
Member States representatives at the June 2000 meeting of the Habitats committee, stressing their
seriousness. The problem of incidental catches of harbour porpoises was also dealt with at the October
2000 meeting of the Habitats committee.

As for the call for broadening the Commission(cid:146)s enquiries beyond the issue of Denmark(cid:146)s implementation
of Article 12 of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and
of wild fauna and flora (1), the Commission requested the sender to provide more detailed information. No
answer has been received yet.

(1) OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.

(2001/C 174 E/121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3700/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: Malawi

Would the Commission outline its response to the allegations of corruption made in the European press
against the Government of Malawi?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(9 January 2001)

The Commission services have been aware for some time of the apparently growing incidents of alleged
corruption in Malawi. They are also aware of the most recent allegations made in the European press,
focusing more particularly on the Government(cid:146)s intention to purchase 39 Mercedes Benz vehicles for
government ministers. This particular issue is viewed more as an instance of poor governance than as an
example of corruption.

C 174 E/118

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

19.6.2001

It is interesting to note that the matter of ministerial vehicles was given some prominence in the Malawi
press itself, in blatant juxtaposition to an article concerning serious needs in the human immunodeficiency
virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) sector, where the financial requirement for the
intended undertaking in this field amounted more or less to the cost of the 39 Mercedes Benz. More
interesting even (cid:129) and perhaps reassuring in the given circumstances (cid:129) is that the newspaper which
carried the articles is owned by a senior member of the Government itself. You may already be aware that,
since then, concerted donor disquiet has led to President Muluzi(cid:146)s decision to sell the vehicles and to use
the proceeds towards reducing poverty.

The Commission continues, both through its local representation and in Brussels, to keep a close watch
over the manner in which EDF funded activities are managed and to bring about corrections of any
attempts at circumventing established EDF financial regulations. So far the potential incidents have been
contained and there has not been need to take more overt, official action. It should be stressed that all
disbursements of EU funding, whether from the EDF or the Community budget, are very closely monitored
and regularly audited. There is currently an audit team in country looking into Structural Adjustment
Facility funding and Food Security/Food Aid funding. It is the Commission(cid:146)s firm intention to strengthen
such monitoring and auditing measures generally, not only in Malawi. The Commission is preparing a
Country Support Strategy in the context of the new Cotonou Agreement, which will include its considered
assessment of Article 9 issues, including corruption, as well as its response strategy.

The Commission has in all
its development assistance to Malawi sought to promote and strengthen
indigenous good governance practices and more specifically has an on-going programme of assistance to
the country(cid:146)s legal sector with its Rule of Law Programme, funded under the Malawi National Indicative
Programme. The Anti-Corruption Bureau, which regularly brings issues of corruption into the public eye,
investigations have culminated in President Muluzi(cid:146)s decision to sack three
and whose most recent
Government minsters on charges of corruption, receives some support under this Programme.
It is
perhaps through the strengthening of such national institutions that a measure of restraint on corruption
can best be assured.

(2001/C 174 E/122)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3701/00

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(29 November 2000)

Subject: UN special session on children

Does the Commission intend to prepare, and submit to the Preparatory Committee of the UN General
Assembly Special Session, a report on the effectiveness of its development cooperation programmes in
relation to the progress made towards achieving the targets which were agreed at the World Summit for
Children in 1990?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(18 January 2001)

The special session of the United Nations General Assembly on children will next September 2001 renew
the world wide commitments made at the World Summit for Children in 1990 and consider further action
for children in the forthcoming decades. The plan of action established seven major and 20 supporting
time-bound goals.

There is currently no explicit Community policy focus on children(cid:146)s issues. However children have an
important role in sectorial, especially social policies such as education and health. These issues are being
addressed in the recent declaration from the Council and the Commission on development policy of the
Community and in the programme of action discussed at the Development Council in November 2000.
They also form the backbone of the new Cotonou Partnership Agreement as well as in the general
framework of poverty eradication.