WRITTEN QUESTION E-0238/03 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Clarification of the status of the Northern Dimension in the EU budget.
Date: 2003-02-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing arrangements, Northern Europe, action programme, budget policy, drawing up of the EU budget, financing method

C 88 E/6

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

competence for human resources and training to the Honduran Commissioner for Human Rights who
under present conditions is competent on the issue. The creation of a special ombudsman could limit the
powers of the Honduran Commissioner for the Human Rights which have been very hard to achieve in a
young democracy like Honduras.

The Commission through a series of programmes is trying to reduce poverty, in particular for sensitive
groups, by helping the government implement its Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme (PRSP). Apart
from a large part of programmes aimed at improving social
infrastructure (medical centres, schools,
houses, water and sanitation) and environment, a special programme to boost reform in secondary
education worth EUR 28 million is in preparation in close cooperation with the Inter-American Bank of
Development.

Concerning Guatemala, the Commission is aware of the conditions of neglected children, as well as the
increasing wave of violence and intimidation in the country. In line with the resolution on human rights in
Guatemala that the Parliament adopted in April 2002, the Commission is endeavouring to use the various
mechanisms at its disposal to influence this situation.

The Commission and Member States maintain a regular dialogue with the Guatemalan Government and
representatives of civil society on the importance of promoting the well-being of all Guatemalan people on
the basis of the full implementation of the Peace Accords signed in 1996. Within this framework, the
Commission constantly urges the local public institutions to discourage and investigate any infringement
of human rights or attacks against human rights activists.

The Commission has been supporting concrete cooperation actions in favour of children and their families
in sectors such as health, education, fight against drugs and gender promotion. The Commission has also
achieved positive results in several specific initiatives in support of young people and street children, which
have been carried out by local non-governmental organisations.

In addition, in the framework of co-operation set by the Peace Accords, the Commission is encouraging
the Guatemalan authorities, the National Police Force and the judiciary system to prevent any action
against the rule of law. This programme will be complemented within the next few months by means of a
specific initiative aimed at strengthening the judiciary system.

Finally, Guatemala is a focus country for Latin America in the framework of the ‘EU Initiative for Human
Rights and Democracy’ (EIHRD) for the period 2002-2004.

(2004/C 88 E/0007)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0238/03

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 February 2003)

Subject: Clarification of the status of the Northern Dimension in the EU budget

In his reply to Question E-3670/01 (1), Commissioner Patten stated: ‘The Commission is in general against
the creation of small thematic or specialised small budget lines, which hinder effective management of the
Community budget.’

In view of this, I should appreciate it if the Commission could clarify a number of points. Does the
Commission regard the Northern Dimension as ‘thematic’? Ought the MEDA programme therefore likewise
to be regarded as thematic? Are not the Northern Dimension and MEDA EU common programmes?

What does the Commission mean by ‘effective management of the Community budget’? Is it not precisely
in budget lines whose scope is broad that fraud occurs?

(1) OJ C 301 E, 5.12.2002, p. 19.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2003)

The Northern Dimension is an important political initiative, which has the full support of the Commission.
Since its launch, as decided by the European Council in Feira (June 2000), it has been clear that the
Northern Dimension would be based on political dialogue and co-ordination of Community instruments.
The Northern Dimension cannot,
frameworks for
Community action such as the MEDA Programme.

therefore, be compared to completely different

The establishment of a Northern Dimension budget line would not be coherent with the fundamental
characteristics of the initiative, which is and will continue to be financed from existing Community
programmes. This basic principle was reaffirmed by both the Ministerial Meeting on the Northern
Dimension that took place on 21 October 2002 and by the General Affairs Council of 22 October 2002.
The ‘Guidelines for the new Northern Dimension Action Plan’ approved by the Foreign Ministers of
Member States and of the seven Partner Countries (Russian Federation, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland,
Norway and Iceland) and subsequently endorsed by the Council do not propose any change in this funding
mechanism.

Since 2000, Northern Dimension initiatives have received substantial financing by the TACIS programme
for actions in Russia, from the PHARE, ISPA and Sapard programmes for the Candidate Countries and
from Interreg in the Member States concerned. For example, the budget line (B7-521) for Cross-Border
Cooperation is used predominantly in the Northern Dimension area; its subsidiary line for the Baltic Sea
(B7-5211) is entirely aimed at the Northern Dimension area. In addition, the Commission has actively
participated in the creation of innovative funding schemes such as the Northern Dimension Environmental
Partnership, towards which the Commission is contributing EUR 50 million over three years.

The recent 2002 Annual Progress Report on the implementation of the Northern Dimension Action
Plan (1) provides a good overview of the wide range of activities being carried forward within the Northern
Dimension. The Commission is convinced that such substantial support, in so many different areas, could
not be guaranteed by a single Northern Dimension budget line.

(1) SEC(2002) 1296.

(2004/C 88 E/0008)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0258/03

by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 February 2003)

Subject: Enlargement and development cooperation

Enlargement of the European Union has the potential to enhance the EU’s influence in world affairs. Upon
accession the candidate countries are expected to participate in EU development cooperation. But
according to Trialog’s Policy Paper (Development Cooperation in the context of EU enlargement, second
edition) of November 2002, accession countries have ‘not
regarding
development cooperation. Consequently their role in EC development cooperation remains unspecified’.
Moreover, most candidate countries have little experience in providing development assistance. Some of
them do not even have a national development policy or system.

received official directives

1. What concrete action has the Commission undertaken in order to prepare candidate countries for
participation in the EU’s development policy? What action will it undertake in the future?

2. What are the criteria used by the Commission to measure progress by the candidate countries in
relation to development issues?