WRITTEN QUESTION E-3870/00 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European Union funding in Honduras.
Date: 2000-12-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, Honduras, aid policy, commitment of expenditure, emergency aid, food aid

C 318 E/12

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.11.2001

The Commission wrote to the French authorities on 30 October 2000, asking them to send their
comments within two months of receiving the letter. After studying any comments, the Commission
reserves the right to deliver the reasoned opinion referred to in Article 226 (formerly Article 169) of the
EC Treaty.

It should be stressed that the complaints received in this connection contained a number of points which
necessitated meetings with the complainants and requests for further information from the French
authorities. The complainants were informed of the Commission(cid:146)s views.

(2001/C 318 E/013)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3836/00

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(7 December 2000)

Subject: Repayment of farm subsidies

On Wednesday, 5 July 2000, the Commission announced that Austria would have to repay € 800 000 in
farm subsidies because of the lack of penalties for inadequate tagging of male bovines in 1996. According
to the Commission, Austria(cid:146)s agricultural market was negligent in the checks performed. Only 40 % of the
ear-tags issued were entered in the database.

In reply to Question E-2636/00,
adjustments for a large number of Member States. Please state details.

the Commission stated that

it had decided numerous different

What amounts were the other European Union Member States required to repay and why?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2001)

The information requested by the Honourable Member can be found in Commission Decision 2000/449/
EC of 5 July 2000 excluding from Community financing certain expenditure incurred by the Member
the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund
States under
(EAGGF) (1). The Annex to that Decision specifies the amounts involved and the reasons for the financial
corrections imposed on the Member States.

the Guarantee Section of

(1) OJ L 180, 19.7.2000.

(2001/C 318 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3870/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 December 2000)

Subject: European Union funding in Honduras

Given that the international community(cid:146)s response to the Hurricane Mitch disaster two years ago in
Honduras has been acknowledged as being well organised and is achieving its aim of rebuilding Honduras,
would the Commission please explain promptly why the EU has not delivered on its promises to allocate
several billion euros to Honduras and why, two years later, not a single euro has been transferred to that
country?

13.11.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 318 E/13

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(9 February 2001)

In order to respond to the most urgent needs, the European Community(cid:146)s Humanitarian Office (ECHO)
implemented in Honduras emergency relief actions for a total amount of € 15 million between 1998 and
1999 and has committed a further € 1,5 million in 2000. ECHO(cid:146)s intervention focused on three main
sectors of assistance: water and sanitation, health, rehabilitation of houses. Aid for food security in the
region totalled € 30 million in 1999, the majority of which was committed to Honduras. All the Food aid
and ECHO aid committed to Honduras was disbursed via European and local non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) throughout the country in the months following the hurricane.

In addition to the important emergency assistance, the Community is highly committed to contributing to
the reconstruction and transformation programme of the Central American countries affected by Hurricane
Mitch. This has been a longer term effort which had to be thoroughly prepared and co-ordinated with the
national development strategies and other donors(cid:146) activities. In this respect, the Commission is pleased to
inform the Honourable Member that it has indeed started to implement the (cid:145)Regional Programme for
Reconstruction of Central America(cid:146) (PRRAC). A decentralised team, including officials and local agents, is
managing the PRRAC programme from the Commission Delegation in Nicaragua, in order to ensure the
proper use of public funds.

This programme totalling € 250 million covers, in the four beneficiary countries (El Salvador, Nicaragua,
in an
Honduras and Guatemala), public health, water and sanitation, housing, education and training,
attempt to give continuity to and strengthen the activities previously undertaken. On 22nd December
1999 the Commission made the first financial commitment for the PRRAC, amounting to € 82,5 million.

With regard to Honduras, the PRRAC has committed € 30 million via its (cid:145)Subprograma Honduras(cid:146) to this
country which are being implemented during the period 1999 to 2002. In 1998 the PRRAC(cid:146)s Studies and
Technical assistance project committed € 8,2 million to Honduras. On 22 December 2000,
the
Commission has committed the second part of the PRRAC for a total amount of € 44,16 of which
approximately € 22 million are devoted to Honduras.

More than 30 % of the total amount allowed to project (cid:145)PRRACOs Studies and technical assistance(cid:146) has
already been disbursed. Regarding the first commitment for the PRRAC, disbursements have started in
December 2000 and will continue within 2001, together with the second engagement, once this one will
be signed by the beneficiary countries.

In addition to the above programmes, the Commission will contribute at least € 15 million to the Highly
Indebted Poor Country (HIPC)
initiative in Honduras. This will be disbursed when the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) confirms that Honduras is in a position to receive it.

The Community is pleased to inform the Honourable Member that it is also implementing several projects
by traditional bilateral co-operation for development aid in Honduras. In March 2000, approximately
40 projects were being implemented by the Community, totalling € 60 million.

The Commission is of the view that it has made a considerable effort in the relief and reconstruction of
Central America and in particular with regard to Honduras.

(2001/C 318 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3895/00

by Robert Goebbels (PSE) to the Commission

(13 December 2000)

Subject: Implementation of full competition with regard to Commission services

The Commission has set its sights on public monopolies with the objective of exposing all sectors enjoying
(cid:145)exclusive rights(cid:146) to the harsh winds of competition.