WRITTEN QUESTION P-3905/02 by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Reconstruction of a constitutional state in DR Congo.
Date: 2003-01-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Belgium, Democratic Republic of the Congo, EU aid, UN Development Programme, democratisation, financial aid, rule of law, the EU's international role

C 192 E/144

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

14.8.2003

(cid:1) the new Intelligent Energy Programme, which is expected to begin later in 2003, will offer support for

the promotion of innovative applications of renewable energy sources;

(cid:1) in addition, the project the Honourable Member refers to could be co-financed through the Structural
Funds as part of the Integrated Operational Programme for Andalusia for the period 2000-2006;

(cid:1) the Commission would remind the Honourable Member that, in accordance with the principle of
subsidiarity, it falls to the Member State to decide which specific projects may be co-financed, with
reference inter alia to the selection criteria laid down in the programming documents. The company
in question ought therefore to be invited to make enquiries at the Dirección General de Fondos
Europeos in the Consejería de Economía y Hacienda de la Junta de Andalucía, at the following address:
Isla de la Cartuja, Edificio Torretriana, 5a planta, 41071 Seville.

(2003/C 192 E/180)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3905/02

by Nelly Maes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(6 January 2003)

Subject: Reconstruction of a constitutional state in DR Congo

Now that eight Congolese political parties have signed a political agreement on power-sharing in Pretoria,
there is an opportunity for peace to be restored in DR Congo.

Given that the Congolese state is de facto non-existent in large tracts of the DRC, even in areas which were
not under foreign occupation, and given that, in the occupied regions, the neighbouring states of Uganda
and Rwanda are actually in total control, the international community must assume its responsibility.
Given the conflict and the 3 million victims, the reconstruction of the country cannot be left to the good
will of the local government, which does not have the resources, nor to one Member State or a few
European Member States. A UN programme is required in order to fill the vacuum created by the
withdrawal of the foreign troops, especially by MONUC, and in order to help with the reconstruction of
the country, where EU aid is indispensable.

How will the EU help in the reconstruction of a constitutional state?

Answer given by Mr Poul Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 February 2003)

The Commission is aware of the overriding importance of re-establishing the rule of law in the Democratic
Republic of Congo as a basis for peace and development in the country and in the Great Lakes region.

A joint Belgian-UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) initiative is now being conducted to
evaluate needs, define a common strategy and set up between the various donors a coordinated operation
for strengthening Congolese public institutions and bases for reform.

The Commission is already helping to re-establish the rule of law through a justice support programme
with a budget of EUR 28 million, now being implemented.

The Commission will also be contributing to capacity-building through its ‘First Institutional Support
Programme,’ approved in December 2002 with a budget of EUR 16 million.

This programme is intended to support the activities of a number of key ministries and the establishment
of transitional institutions such as the National Electoral Commission and the National Human Rights
Commission.