WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/01 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Aid policy for the development and rights of children.
Date: 2001-06-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: International Labour Organisation, child labour, children's rights, cooperation agreement (EU), development aid, the EU's international role, third country

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/17

(2002/C 115 E/016)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(22 June 2001)

Subject: Aid policy for the development and rights of children

Once again the international press has drawn the public’s attention to the dramatic, ongoing and incredible
situation of millions of children throughout the world (allegedly 250 million $ an astonishing figure) who
are forced to work unbelievably hard from a very young age. While child labour is still a social problem in
several EU countries, in many non-European countries it has reached unacceptable levels.

The European Union has a moral obligation, considering how verbally profuse it has been in support of
children’s rights, to use all the means at its disposal to combat this sad state of affairs which literally
destroys the dignity and life of millions of children.

1.
Can the Commission therefore say whether it would truly be possible to grant financing and aid to
the developing countries in question, and conclude trade agreements with them, only on condition that
they implement the human rights clause which, on paper at least, is always included in such agreements?

2.
Can the Commission in any case find a way to support the children who have had their childhood
destroyed in such countries, by means of aid schemes and specific targeted projects with a view to curbing,
at the very least, the terrible scourge of child labour?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The Commission strongly supports efforts by the international community to eliminate child labour across
the world. In this regard, the Commission particularly supports the work of the International Labour
Organisation $ the ILO adopted a Convention in 1999 banning the Worst Forms of Child Labour. On
15 September 2000, the Commission underlined its support for the ILO’s efforts against child labour by
adopting a Recommendation to the Member States to ratify this new Convention. The Commission has
also supported EU efforts at the international level to combat child labour, most recently at the 57th UN
Commission on Human Rights.

Since 1992 all cooperation agreements between the EU and third countries have incorporated a clause
defining respect for human rights $ including rights of the child $ as an ‘essential element’ of the
agreement. This includes core labour standards as set out in the eight ILO fundamental conventions. As the
recent Commission Communication on Human Rights makes clear, human rights clauses are not intended
to signify a negative or punitive approach but rather to promote dialogue and positive measures. Political
Dialogue with third countries offers the opportunity to press home the importance of respecting children’s
rights. The Commission will continue to attach importance to Parliament’s views with respect to the
invocation of the human rights clause.

With respect to development assistance, there is a clear opportunity to discuss the implementation of core
labour standards with recipient countries. The opportunity arises in drafting Country Strategy Papers and
in the discussions with governments on Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP’s). Other instruments
include specific measures for capacity strengthening in relevant ministries, to enable governments to
formulate, enact and implement national labour legislation that applies the international consensus on the
principles and rights contained in the ILO fundamental Conventions to local realities, thus facilitating
ratification and implementation, and to build realistic monitoring mechanisms.

Specific measures to further the elimination of child labour include developing effective and time-bound
through prevention, protection and
forms of child labour
programmes

to eliminate the worst

C 115 E/18

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

rehabilitation; ensuring access to free, quality basic education; and wherever possible and appropriate,
vocational training for all children; giving greater visibility to child labour through strengthened data
collection, analysis and dissemination; and promoting awareness of children’s rights to protection from
economic exploitation, and the need for priority action against the worst forms of child labour. Financial
support for the fight against child labour has been made available under the European Initiative for
Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). Several projects were funded under the 2000 budget, including
assistance to domestic workers in Togo, child agricultural labourers in Egypt and organisations fighting
child labour in Latin America. Promotion of the rights of the child has been chosen as a priority theme for
funding under the 2001 budget of the EIDHR and the selection of projects is currently being finalised.

The 2000 Cotonou Agreement between the EU and 77 ACP states represents an important step forward in
promoting core labour standards in bilateral agreements and includes a specific provision on trade and
labour standards. The main action of the Commission to fight child labour is its work on poverty
eradication, especially in African Countries.

(2002/C 115 E/017)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1893/01

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(28 June 2001)

Subject: Progress of work on the Pylos estuary and the Evrotas delta

As part of the Community’s LIFE-Natura programme, the Commission approved a programme for the
implementation of measures to protect the Natura 2000 areas of the Pylos estuary and the Evrotas delta
for a duration of three years commencing on 1 December 1997.

1. What was the total amount made available from the Community budget for the work? What amount
has been used to date and which part of the work was carried out with that amount?

Is the Commission satisfied with the progress of the work and, if not, who is responsible for the

2.
delays?

Answer given by Mrs Wallström on behalf of the Commission

(3 September 2001)

The LIFE-Nature project ‘Implementation of management plans for Pylos Lagoon and Evrotas Delta’ started
on 1 April 1997 and ended on 31 December 2000. It was carried out by a partnership of organisations,
under the overall responsibility of Hellenic Ornithological Society, and with the support of the Greek
Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works. In the context of this project, a set of
actions were undertaken aiming at the conservation and restoration of these 2 sites which have been
proposed by Greece for the Natura 2000 network pursuant to Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the
conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (1).

The total approved budget of the project was € 1 513 420, with a Community contribution of 70 %
(€ 1 059 394) to it. According to the financial elements submitted to the Commission, the actions carried
out account for a total amount of € 1 359 477. The difference of € 153 943, as compared to the budget
approved, is mainly due to the fluctuation of the exchange rate of Euro in relation to the Greek Drachmae
between the start and end date of the project, and the non-completion of one of the project actions
(renovation of
façade of an old pumping station at Pylos converted into a scientific
workstation/information centre).

the external

As a whole the project was completed successfully and has a strong demonstration value. In particular, it
has been able to undertake important wetland restoration work, to implement innovative actions, to