WRITTEN QUESTION E-1004/01 by Edward McMillan-Scott (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.
Date: 2001-03-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, EU initiative, cooperation policy, democratisation, human rights, invitation to tender, non-governmental organisation, third country

C 364 E/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.12.2001

As the annex to the Commission(cid:146)s reply to point 2.7(d) of the (cid:145)Blak(cid:146) questionnaire for the 1999 discharge
stated, in total substantial financial corrections concerning the milk sector have nevertheless been imposed
on Member States under the Commission(cid:146)s clearance of accounts decisions adopted in 2000 and 2001.

As regards the Honourable Member(cid:146)s request for an explanation as to how the organisation of payment
schemes can justify the discrepancies between the sectors, the types of aid schemes and their inherent risks
should be considered.

In the olive-oil sector:

(cid:129) production aid is paid to the individual producer on the basis of the quantity of olive oil declared.
There is a direct relationship between the quantity declared by the oil mill and the financial aid
received by the individual producer. Controls introduced by the specific olive-oil inspection bodies
have become more effective;

(cid:129) consumption aid was paid on the basis of quality requirements and the quantity placed on the
consumer market. Despite all the controls introduced, there were numerous possibilities of corrupt
practice. This was one of the reasons for abandoning the aid scheme.

In the milk sector there are neither direct payments to producers nor payments based on the quality or
quantity of fresh whole milk; the (cid:145)aid to producers(cid:146) is paid on the basis of milk products (cid:129) casein, milk
powder, butter (cid:129) at the next stage in the processing chain: an intermediate dairy (thus not to individual
farmers).

The Commission has no reason to believe that producers in one sector are as such more likely to commit
irregularities than producers in another sector.

(1) OJ B 172, 30.9.1966.
(2) OJ L 67, 14.3.1991.

(2001/C 364 E/037)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1004/01

by Edward McMillan-Scott (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights

(30 March 2001)

What plans does the Commission have for the continued administration, monitoring and evaluation of
projects financed from Chapter B7-70?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 July 2001)

On 29 April 1999 the Council adopted two Regulations (1) laying down procedures for the implemen-
tation of Community development cooperation operations contributing to the objective of consolidating
democracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms; they
provide a legal basis for all human rights and democratisation operations financed by Chapter B7-70 of the
Community budget.

Under the reform of external aid, the Directorate General (DG) for External Relations initially undertakes
programming,
to establish
in consultation with the geographical departments and the delegations,
priorities based on objectives covered by regulations on human rights and taking the EU(cid:146)s political
priorities into account. The programming is then implemented by Cooperation Office departments.

20.12.2001

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Official Journal of the European Communities

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1. Management and monitoring

The Chapter covers five budget lines (2) for 2001 and contains three main ways of implementing the
EU(cid:146)s strategy in the areas in question:

(a) Projects identified through a public call for proposals (3)

With a contribution from the Commission of at
they are
implemented by civil society operators, including local authorities (but not including national or
international governmental institutions and organisations). Priorities based on objectives covered
by human rights regulations were defined for the call. In accordance with the Commission
approach to taking the gender policy into account, submitted projects must refer specifically to
the impact
their activities will have on men and women. Around 1300 projects worth
approximately € 1 billion in total have been received since the call.

least € 300 000 per project,

(b) Targeted projects

Projects are implemented within the framework of common programmes with partners which can
include international governmental organisations and national authorities. The Commission
identifies them in pursuance of specific objectives unable to be achieved through the call for
proposals. The aim is to support projects which are important enough and will last long enough
to ensure that the activities will make an obvious difference to the situation in question. Unless
there are exceptional circumstances, the Commission will support projects worth a minimum of
€ 600 000.

(c) Microprojects

Microprojects launched by local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) receive a Community
contribution up to € 50 000 and are managed directly by the Commission delegation in the
countries concerned. They involve NGOs, which play an essential role in their countries but
generally cannot access funding from the budget in the ways described above due to their limited
size and human resources. The Commission delegations are responsible for launching a local call
for proposals based on specific priorities, assessing and selecting projects, concluding contracts
with applicants, selection and payments, in line with guidelines agreed by the Commission

2.

Evaluation

Each contract provides the possibility for the Commission and the Court of Auditors to inspect
documents and places where projects are implemented.

An independent annual evaluations of 10 to 15 % of all projects is planned during the third quarter of
2001 (there are currently 724 projects under way, costing € 221 million), i.e. an assessment of around
100 projects each year.

Detailed instructions for the evaluation and regular follow-up of all projects will be adopted.
Methodological instruments for regular follow-up will be adopted at the end of the third quarter of
2001.

An electronic network of all recipients will be set up, allowing direct contact. It is planned to publish
articles on the projects on an Internet site dedicated to supporting democracy and human rights.

(1) Council Regulations (EC) No 975/1999 and 976/1999 of 29 April 1999 (OJ L 120, 8.5.1999).
(2) B7-701 (Promotion and protection of human rights), B7-702 (Supporting democracy), B7-703 (Prevention of
conflicts and dealing with the consequences of conflicts), B7-704N (International criminal courts), B7-709N (Free
and fair elections).

(3) Only the three budget lines B7-701, 702 and 703 are included in the call. In 2001 it is planned to allocate around
50 % of the total appropriations in this chapter to the call for proposals, i.e. around 50 % of the available funding
for each of the three budget lines.