WRITTEN QUESTION E-2002/01 by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Arrangements for assessing projects relating to developing countries.
Date: 2001-07-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, developing countries, establishment of peace, peacekeeping, the EU's international role

16.5.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 115 E/25

(2002/C 115 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2002/01

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(6 July 2001)

Subject: Arrangements for assessing projects relating to developing countries

the European Parliament

‘urges the Member States,

In paragraph 33 of its resolution on the Third UN Conference on the Least-Developed Countries (B5-0246/
the international organisations and the
2001),
Commission to take due account of the aspects relating to peace-making, peace-building and peace-
keeping at all stages (planning, execution and assessment) of programmes in countries which have recently
emerged from an armed conflict or in countries in process of emerging from such a conflict and still
having to deal with displaced persons and refugee populations’. Since it is important for peace-making,
peace-building and peace-keeping measures to be applied comprehensively, can the Commission explain
what action it has taken or is intending to take in connection with paragraph 33 of the European
Parliament’s resolution?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(6 September 2001)

The Commission is currently implementing a number of the proposals and recommendations it put
forward in its recent Communication on conflict prevention (1). Some of those recommendations concern
countries in post-conflict situations or in the process of emerging from conflict, such as those referred to
by the Honourable Member. Furthermore, following its Communication on linking relief, rehabilitation and
development (2), the Commission is considering a range of measures to facilitate donor coordination and to
increase its flexibility and rapidity for mobilising funds in order to improve its contribution to post-crisis
situations.

One of the main recommendations of the Communication on conflict prevention is to integrate better this
dimension (and thus also peace-making, peace-building and peace-keeping aspects) into its strategies vis-à-
vis partner countries and its external cooperation programmes. The current review of Country Strategy
Papers for all cooperation partner countries provides an opportunity to do this.

For countries in conflict, the Country Support Strategy (CSS) will focus on the Community’s role in peace
building and resolution. Where appropriate, the Commission will engage more in activities supporting
democratic institutions, civil society, reform of the ‘security’ sector as well as,
in the specific case of
countries in post-conflict situation, rehabilitation programmes and demobilisation disarmament and
reintegration programmes. It will also give greater attention to the situation of children affected by war.

Other recommendations of the communication aim at improving the efficiency of actions targeting
specific causes of conflict (such as drug trafficking, spread of small arms, conflict diamonds, etc.), the
Union’s capacity to react quickly to nascent conflicts and the international cooperation with all the Union’s
partners (partner countries, non governmental organisations, international organisations).

(1) COM(2001) 211 final.
(2) COM(2001) 153 final.

(2002/C 115 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2005/01

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Crisis in the new economy and risks to savers

(6 July 2001)

The bankruptcy proceedings started by American leading-edge technology companies have also had
repercussions in Europe. The Italian case is particularly striking because, in addition to the weak safeguards