WRITTEN QUESTION E-0106/01 by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Help for Honduras after hurricane.
Date: 2001-02-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ECHO, Honduras, aid programme, cyclone, educational institution, food aid, humanitarian aid, medical institution

3.7.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 187 E/185

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

The third quarter of 2001 was selected for two reasons: to accustom the economic actors to handling the
euro over a period which will be sufficiently long for them to become familiar with it; to stagger and have
more control over changeover operations by not having them coincide with the actual introduction of
coins and notes (frontloading will be spread over September to December 2001).

Conversion of accounts into euros will be accompanied by a large-scale information and communication
campaign targeted at the banks in order to prevent confusion and to ensure complete transparency of the
operation.

(2001/C 187 E/198)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0106/01

by Dana Scallon (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Help for Honduras after hurricane

After the hurricane, the European Union has promised several millions of euros for rehabilitation of
schools and clinics, but to date not a single euro seems to have been delivered. Why?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(8 March 2001)

In order to respond to the most urgent needs, the European Community(cid:146)s Humanitarian Office (ECHO)
implemented emergency relief actions in Honduras amounting in total to € 15 million between 1998 and
1999 and committed a further € 1,5 million in 2000. ECHO(cid:146)s intervention focused on three main sectors
of assistance: water and sanitation, health and 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 organisation
(NGO) throughout the country in the months following the hurricane.

In addition to this 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: a longer term effort which had to be thoroughly prepared and co-ordinated with the national
development strategies and other donors(cid:146) activities.
the Commission has 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 its Delegation in
Nicaragua, in order to ensure the proper use of public funds.

In this respect,

The programme totalling € 250 million covers, in the four beneficiary countries (El Salvador, Nicaragua,
Honduras and Guatemala), public health, water and sanitation, housing, education and training,
in an
attempt to give continuity to and strengthen the activities previously undertaken by other Commission
departments. In December 1999 the Commission made the first financial commitment for the PRRAC,
amounting to € 82,5 million. On 22 December 2000, the Commission committed the second part of the
PRRAC for a total amount of € 44 160 000 of which approximately € 22 million are devoted to Honduras.

The PRRAC has committed € 52,7 million via its (cid:145)Subprograma Honduras(cid:146) to this country which are being
implemented during the period 1999 to 2002. Moreover,
in 1998 the PRRAC(cid:146)s studies and technical
assistance project committed € 8,2 million.

C 187 E/186

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.7.2001

In addition to the above programmes, the Community will contribute around € 15 million for Honduras
within the framework of the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative. This will be dispursed when
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) decides that Honduras is in a position to receive it.

The Commission is also implementing several projects by traditional bilateral co-operation for develop-
ment aid which includes programs in the education and health sectors. In March 1999, approximately 40
projects were being implemented by the Community, totalling € 60 000 000.

(2001/C 187 E/199)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0109/01

by Heidi Hautala (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 February 2001)

Subject: Improved construction of livestock vehicles

The Commission will recall that, following much hard work and consultation with interested parties,
a proposal to amend Directive 70/156/EEC (1) regarding type-approval of vehicles and trailers carrying
farm livestock was published in July 1997. Parliament responded positively and in its report, agreed in July
1998, several amendments were put forward. Many of these were accepted by the Commission and an
amended proposal was published in April 1999.

In the light of the Commission(cid:146)s recent report highlighting continuing welfare problems for transported
animals and the fact that some of these problems are caused by inadequately constructed vehicles, would
the Commission agree that the proposed Directive to lay down rules for the improved construction of
livestock vehicles should be made a priority? Would the Commission say what steps it intends to take so
that, with the Council, a common position can be reached without any further delay and progress made
on this important piece of legislation?

(1) OJ L 42, 23.2.1970, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(15 March 2001)

The Commission shares the views of the Honourable Member on the importance of improving transport
conditions of farm livestock. For this purpose a proposal for a Directive regarding type-approval of
vehicles and trailers carrying certain types of animals was presented in July 1997 (1).

This Directive will contribute to ensuring that the technical conditions exist to safeguard welfare of animals
during their transport.

The draft proposal lays down requirements on the basis of Article 95 (ex Article 100A) of the EC Treaty
and provides for total harmonisation of the relevant technical provisions of vehicles intended for the
transport of certain types of animals. This approach is consistent with the general approach followed in
the motor vehicle sector as established in the framework directive regulating the type-approval of motor
vehicles in the Community (Council Directive 70/156/EEC of 6 February 1970, as last amended by
Directive 2000/40/EC of the Parliament and Council of 26 June 2000 (2)).

After the first reading in the Parliament on 16 July 1998, an amended proposal was adopted on 2 March
1999 (3) and sent to the Council.

It is the intention of the Swedish Presidency to reach a Common Position under its Presidency.

(1) OJ C 290, 24.9.1997.
(2) OJ L 203, 10.8.2000.
(3) OJ C 110, 21.4.1999.