WRITTEN QUESTION E-1092/02 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission. ACP-EU Local Government Platform.
Date: 2002-04-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ACP countries, European Commission, European Development Fund, cooperation policy, decentralisation, local government

C 309 E/80

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

(2002/C 309 E/092)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1092/02

by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission

(18 April 2002)

Subject: ACP-EU Local Government Platform

How does the Commission intend to promote and support the work of the ACP-EU Local Government
Platform, which includes the Commonwealth Local Government Forum?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(15 May 2002)

The Commission attaches great importance to the role of local governments as actors of cooperation as
defined in Article 6 of the Cotonou Agreement. It is crucial both in terms of democracy and governance
and in terms of sustainability.

The Commission has followed closely the organization and structuring of the African, Caribbean and
Pacific States-Union’s (ACP-EU) Local Government Platform and participated in a seminar organized by the
Platform on 14 March 2002 in Brussels to jointly explore ways of cooperation. During the seminar the
Commission encouraged the Platform to open up channels of communication on issues of institutional
development and governance.

In terms of financial support, the ACP-EU Local Government Platform has possibilities to access funds
from the European Development Fund under which significant support has already been provided to the
decentralization of government facilities and the following two budget lines:

(cid:1) the non-governmental organisation co-financing budget line B6-7000, whose operation is based on
calls for proposals. The closing date for the interest call for proposals was 15 April 2002. A new call
for proposals will be published with a deadline planned for November 2002.

(cid:1) the ‘’Decentralised Cooperation’ budget line, B7-6002, a call for proposals for which will be published

before July 2002.

Financial support has already been provided to the Commonwealth Local Government Forum:

(cid:1) In 1999, a contract was signed for a project called ‘Pacific local government building project’ in Papua
New Guinea, Solomon islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Kiribati, with a Community contribution of
EUR 300 000, for a period of 30 months. The project should end on 30 June 2002.

(cid:1) In May 2000, a contract was signed for a project called ‘Local government regional information centre
in Republic of South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique, Namibia,
(cid:1) phase 2’
Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi, with a Community contribution of EUR 326 813, for a period of
27 months, ending in August 2002.

(2002/C 309 E/093)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1095/02

by Luigi Cocilovo (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 April 2002)

Subject: Failure to comply with European directives on environmental impact assessment

In the municipalities of San Vendemiano, Conegliano, San Pietro di Feletto and Susegana, in the province
of Treviso, there is a preliminary project to build a road to be called the Tangenziale sud, with a total
length of approximately 10 kilometres.