WRITTEN QUESTION P-2482/01 by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission. Drought and famine in Central America.
Date: 2001-09-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central America, crop losses, food aid, international cooperation, the EU's international role

C 147 E/20

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.6.2002

As regards the transport industry, in view of the over-capacity of tonnage in most of the main freight
transport sectors and economic problems which arise as a result, the Commission is very cautious when
assessing aid for the purchase of transport means. It therefore decided that such aid has to pass the
Commission’s close scrutiny by way of State aid procedures and may not be subject to an exemption from
notification.

6.
The field of export credit is regulated by the (OECD) Consensus for officially supported export
credits, Council Decision 93/112/EEC of 14 December 1992 extending the Decision of 4 April 1978 on
the application of certain guidelines in the field of officially supported export credits2 (2), which has been
implemented into Community law. In addition, general rules relating to State aid (namely, Articles 87 and
88 of the EC Treaty) are applicable. Export guarantees have to be analysed and evaluated according to
these instruments, in order to verify their compliance with Community law, irrespectively of whether they
relate to SMEs or to other undertakings.

(1) OJ C 235, 21.8.2001.
(2) OJ L 44, 22.2.1993.

(2002/C 147 E/019)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2482/01

by Joan Colom i Naval (PSE) to the Commission

(5 September 2001)

Subject: Drought and famine in Central America

According to reports received by the questioner, the drought which has been affecting Central America for
three months has destroyed between 40 and 100 % of the harvest of maize, beans, rice and sorghum in
some areas and famine is affecting 1,6 million people in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua,
according to figures supplied by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

Can the Commission say whether it has taken any steps to provide aid and what the result has been?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 October 2001)

According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s (FAO) Special Alert Report No 317 of 3 September
2001 (1) current estimates for Central America’s aggregate cereal output are of 2,3 million tonnes, some 8
percent lower than the last five-year average. This drop is largely due to the drought or unevenly
distributed rains during the period June-August 2001 that followed abundant rains in May 2001.

The cumulative effects of the successive natural disasters A Hurricane Mitch, earthquakes and drought A,
the dramatic fall in the prices of critical export crops (coffee, banana) and the structural inadequacies of
agricultural policies, contributed to the worsening of the overall poverty situation and food insecurity
amongst large groups of the rural populations.

All indications are that current food aid needs are being met by the governments of the region, through
the use of strategic reserves and imports, complemented with food aid contributions made by World Food
Programme (WFP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Inter-American
Development Bank (IDB).

Until this moment the governments have not requested additional emergency relief and no appeals have
been received from international relief organisations or non-governmental organisations (NGOs). However
the continuation of the adverse agricultural conditions might will exhaust the governments’ capacity in the
short run and may require additional donor support.

20.6.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 147 E/21

The Commission is currently providing financial support in excess of € 2,2 millions to NGOs (through
Euronaid) for the provision of agricultural inputs for El Salvador. The Commission is also considering the
possible reorientation of some on-going projects and the use of contingencies to better meet the needs
created by the present crisis.

The Commission is following with attention the situation in the region through its Delegations with the
support of the Food Security and ECHO’s resident advisors. Until 31 August 2001 the Commission could
also rely upon high quality reporting and analysis provided by the former Technical Assistance Office of
the European network for food safety (RESAL).

(1) http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/faoinfo/economic/giews/english/alertes/2001/SA317CA.htm.

(2002/C 147 E/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2499/01

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(13 September 2001)

Subject: Purely domestic considerations in the development of Laarbruch airport in Germany on the border

with the Netherlands

Is the Commission aware of plans to develop the former British military airbase at Laarbruch near

1.
Weeze (Germany, North Rhine Westphalia, Düsseldorf, Kleve) for use as a civilian airport?

2.
Is the Commission aware that Laarbruch is close to the Dutch border and that the approach route to
the landing and takeoff runway which lies in an East-West direction causes considerable nuisance to the
village of Bergen (province of Limburg) and the De Hamert nature reserve on the Dutch side of the border?

3.
Is the Commission also aware that in drafting these plans only the impact on the environment and
economy on the German side of the border and the relevant German environmental standards have been
considered so far and that the negative repercussions of the plan on the Dutch side of the border have
been totally disregarded. Proximity to the border between the two countries has been used only as a means
of propaganda to support the claim that the airport is a ‘Euregional’ facility which would benefit the Dutch
towns of Venlo and Nijmegen?

4.
Can the Commission confirm that there are also plans to allow flights between 11 p.m. and midnight
and between 5 and 6 a.m., which was not the case for the former military airbase or for regional airports
in the Netherlands, as result of which those living in the area will find their sleep seriously disturbed?

5. What action can be taken to avoid an outdated approach of shifting environmental problems onto a
neighbouring country and once again creating the impression that European cooperation does not help
solve cross-border problems between two or more Member States?

6. What can the Commission do to ensure the democratic involvement of all interested parties and the
proper weighing up of all the conflicting interests on either side of the Dutch-German border?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(12 November 2001)

1.
Following information received from the German authorities, financial support from the Structural
Funds for work related to the conversion of Weeze-Laarbruch airport has been provided through the
Konver II programme for North Rhein-Westphalia during the 1994-1999 programming period, of which
the overall purpose was to support economic diversification in regions heavily dependent on the defence