WRITTEN QUESTION E-3421/02 by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission. EU funding for cultural projects in Albania.
Date: 2002-12-02
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, EU aid, EU financing, cooperation policy, cultural policy, culture

15.1.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 11 E/55

(2004/C 11 E/058)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3419/02

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(25 November 2002)

Subject: Tuberculosis and the Stop TB Partnership

The WHO and other experts working on issues relating to the fight against tuberculosis have recently
highlighted the current funding shortfall for TB control. The World Health Assembly has set targets of
detecting 70 % of TB patients under the DOTS programme and curing 85 % of them by 2005. Although
the estimated annual cost for this is USD 1,2 billion, funding has only been secured for three quarters of
this amount.

Although Parliament and Council are currently examining the Commission’s proposed Regulation on aid
for poverty diseases in developing countries, does the Commission intend to take more immediate action
to help to address this shortfall? Is the Commission aware of any action taken by Member States that is
intended to fill this funding gap?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(19 December 2002)

The Commission is aware of the Tuberculosis (TB) burden and the financial gap to extend DOTS as one of
the main priorities in the control of the major communicable diseases related to poverty. The Commission
supports the extension of the DOTS strategy. This strategy relies on effective health systems and, therefore,
it is through the support at country level and in dialogue with the government authorities towards sector
support we can best support TB control. The Commission is also co-financing non-governmental
organisations (NGOs) which have focused on TB control in some regions.

The Commission supports the Global Fund to fight the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS),
in the context of millennium development goals. It is
malaria and tuberculosis aiming at TB control
making a contribution of EUR 120 million for 2002. These funds will
tuberculosis control
programmes, including scaling up DOTS. The annual contribution 2003-2006 from the Budget Line for
poverty-related diseases is being discussed at present in Council and Parliament, and the Commission has
proposed a significant increase in funds compared to previous years. It will allow us, inter alia, to fund
innovative initiatives towards the control of TB, which can later be scaled up through the other financial
instruments of the Commission.

target

Eleven Member States are contributing to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The
total pledges from the Community are almost EUR 1,2 billion, or 55 % of all pledges.

(2004/C 11 E/059)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3421/02

by Stavros Xarchakos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 December 2002)

Subject: EU funding for cultural projects in Albania

The EU, together with the Greek Government is funding a number of projects in Albania with a view to
stimulating the country’s growth and cultural development.

In which areas of Albania are cultural projects receiving funding? Is particular attention being given to
cultural projects receiving EU funding in southern Albania? What is the total EU funding earmarked for
Albania over the next five years and what funding will be allocated to cultural projects?

C 11 E/56

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

15.1.2004

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(4 March 2003)

The Union provides assistance to Albania in the framework of the Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000
of 5 December 2000 (1). The medium-term outlook for assistance is set by the Country Strategy Paper
2002-2006 which includes the Multi-annual Indicative Programme identifying the priority sectors for
Union assistance for the period between 2002-2004. The present financial envelope for this period is
EUR 143,9 million. The areas of foremost importance are justice and home affairs, administrative capacity
building, economic and social development, environment, natural resources and democratic stabilisation.
The agreed Country Strategy Paper does not have culture as a priority for co-operation, hence no projects
in this field are funded by the Commission through the CARDS programme.

All these priority areas are assisting Albania in improving its administrative structures, working capacities
and methodologies for being able to move gradually ahead in its Stabilisation and Association process.

In addition to the national allocations, CARDS regional programme established for the period between
2002-2004, assists the whole region in the areas of
integrated border management, democratic
stabilisation, institution building and regional infrastructure with EUR 80 million from which also Albania
benefits.

In the framework of Interreg IIIA, cross-border co-operation between Greece and Albania, some actions are
planned to support cultural and artistic events benefiting the southern regions of Albania. The Albanian
side contributes in kind to these activities.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 of 5 December 2000 on assistance for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, repealing Regulation
(EC) No 1628/96 and amending Regulations (EEC) No 3906/89 and (EEC) No 1360/90 and Decisions 97/256/EC
and 1999/311/EC, OJ L 306, 7.12.2000.

(2004/C 11 E/060)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3422/02

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(2 December 2002)

Subject: EU economic aid for countries infringing human rights

I have repeatedly drawn the Commission’s attention to the illegal confiscation of property belonging to
Community citizens (mainly of Italian, Dutch and Greek nationality) living in Ethiopia under the Mengistu
Communist Regime which has since collapsed. It is no secret that the present government of Ethiopia is
refusing to remedy matters, while the EU, far from taking any action whatever, is continuing to provide
unconditional economic aid for this country.

The United States on the other hand has not hesitated to call into force the pre-war ‘Hall Rule’ which
authorises President of the United States to suspend immediately economic aid to countries harming the
interests of American citizens. The Ethiopian Government has complied with its demands and
compensated American citizens whose property had been illegally confiscated by the Mengistu regime
something which (cid:1) I repeat (cid:1) the European Union has failed to achieve for its own citizens.

Finally, the international press has indicated that the totalitarian regime of Zimbabwe under Robert
Mugabe announced that the Prime Minister Tony Blair and the members of his government would be
banned from entering the country since the United Kingdom was imposing visa requirements on all
Zimbabwean citizens wishing to visit the United Kingdom. It is moreover a known fact that the United
Kingdom has repeatedly castigated the communist regime of that country for its repressive policies and for