WRITTEN QUESTION E-2826/02 by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission. Action programme to integrate climate change considerations into EU development policy.
Date: 2002-10-08
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU environmental policy, action programme, aid policy, climate change, developing countries, development aid, environmental cooperation, reduction of gas emissions

7.11.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 268 E/17

funds set up to implement the Bonn Agreements (Least Developed Countries Fund, Special Climate Change
Fund and the Kyoto Protocol Adaptation Fund) and finally through the proceeds from the levy on CDM
projects introduced under the Kyoto Protocol.

At the CoP-8 conference in New Delhi, the EU will undoubtedly be challenged by the developing countries
on these promises. What measures has the Commission taken since Bonn to implement the Council’s
request of 11 November 1999 to make additional resources available within the framework of EU
development policy for support to the developing countries in implementing the Climate Convention?

(2003/C 268 E/019)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2826/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(8 October 2002)

Subject: Action programme to integrate climate change considerations into EU development policy

On 11 November 1999 the Commission was invited by the Development Cooperation Council to report
back to the Council on the progress made in integrating climate change considerations into EC economic
and development cooperation policies. This report was to include an action programme with targets,
timetables and indicators. The Council called on the Commission to submit its report as soon as possible
after the sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention (CoP-6).

At its meeting of 10 November 2000 the Development Council confirmed that the Commission and
Member States should maximise the coordination and complementarity of climate relevant development
cooperation of the Community, the Member States, other development agencies and local actors. The
Council also said that the first aim is to create as many synergies between poverty reduction and climate
change activities as possible by supporting measures leading to win-win situations, and reiterated its call
on the Commission to submit a report,
in accordance with the Council conclusions of 11 November
1999, as soon as possible after CoP-6, for the Council’s further consideration.

During the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Convention (CoP-7) the
Council discussed preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development at its meeting of
8 November 2001 and again encouraged the Member States and the Community to strengthen the
integration of climate change into their development cooperation policies and to allocate appropriate
additional financial resources for this purpose. At the request of the Belgian delegation, Commissioner
Nielson informed the Council that the Commission ‘was currently working on the integration of the
various Community policies (cid:1) including development policy (cid:1) into an action programme on climate
change’.

We are now on the eve of CoP-8 in New Delhi and the Commission has still not submitted the action
programme specifically requested by the Council three years ago, for the integration of climate change
considerations into EU development policy to Parliament and the Council.

Can the Commission say why the action programme has failed to materialise and how this can be
reconciled with the political commitments entered into by the EU at the conferences of the parties to the
Climate Convention and at the recent World Summit in Johannesburg?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2823/02 and E-2826/02
given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(26 November 2002)

Since 1999, the Commission has been very active as regards the Climate Change issue. In particular, it has
kept a high profile in the negotiation process in partnership with successive Council Presidencies and with
the Member States. The most prominent result is the recent ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the
Community. Many implementing activities have been launched and are on-going in the context of both
internal and external policies.

C 268 E/18

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

7.11.2003

Concerning the political Declaration made in July 2001, following the approval of the Bonn Agreements,
the Commission is fully involved in the on-going Council discussions aiming at the finalisation of a
common understanding on the distribution between the Community and its Member States of the EU
share of the pledged USD 410 million. However, given that the suggestion at the time was that distribution
should be calculated on the basis of the countries’ CO2 emissions in 1990, i.e. according to the Polluter
Pays Principle (PPP) it is the Commission’s view that the EU share of the pledge shall be met by the
Member States, since the Community has no CO2 emissions of its own. The Commission will probably still
make a contribution, even though by definition truly additional
financial
perspective are not available.

funds under the current

Immediately after the conclusion of the Marrakesh Accords in November 2001, the Commission started
working on a Communication that will serve as a basis for discussion with Member States and civil society
on an EU strategy and action plan for climate change in the context of development co-operation. The
Commission intends to adopt the Communication at the latest early next year.

(2003/C 268 E/020)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2824/02

by Kathleen Van Brempt (PSE) to the Commission

(8 October 2002)

Subject: Tropical

forests and other forests in developing countries (cid:1) conservation and sustainable

management

On 7 November 2000 Parliament and the Council adopted Regulation (EC) No 2494/2000 (1) on measures
to promote the conservation and sustainable management of tropical and other forests in developing
countries. This regulation provides for significant financial resources to support initiatives to conserve and
sustainably manage forests in developing countries undertaken not only by the States concerned but also
by international organisations, regions and regional bodies, decentralised departments, public agencies,
private operators and industries, cooperatives,
local communities, non-governmental organisations and
associations representing local people, in particular forest-dependent people.

This financial instrument, which enables the EU to contribute to achieving sustainable development in the
South, entered into force almost two years ago. How does the Commission explain that the Development
DG’s webpage ‘Funding opportunities under the “tropical Forests” and “environment” budget lines’ makes
no mention of this instrument and still gives outdated information saying that the Commission cannot
provide financial support for new projects in this area until the European Parliament and the Council have
adopted a new regulation?

According to the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 2494/2000, every second year the Commission is
required to establish strategic guidelines and priorities for the activities to be carried out in the following
years and to inform Parliament of them. Have these strategic guidelines and priorities already been
established? If so, when will Parliament be informed? If not, why not?

(1) OJ L 288, 15.11.2000, p. 6.

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(18 November 2002)

The Commission regrets that the web page referred to by the Honourable Member was out of date. This is
truly embarrassing. This information has now been updated to reflect the adoption of the new Regulation
and the fact that implementation has taken place.

The strategic guidelines and priorities for the activities to be carried out under the provision of Regulation
(EC) No 2494/2000 (1) will be decided by the Commission shortly. They will then be sent to Parliament for
information.

(1) Regulation (EC) No 2494/2000 of the Parliament and of the Council of 7 November 2000 on measures to promote
the conservation and sustainable management of tropical forests and other forests in developing countries, OJ L 288,
15.11.2000.