WRITTEN QUESTION E-0258/03 by Bob van den Bos (ELDR) to the Commission. Enlargement and development cooperation.
Date: 2003-02-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: accession to the European Union, aid policy, development aid, enlargement of the Union

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/7

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?

C 88 E/8

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(7 March 2003)

In the preparations for membership, the Union body of law has been extensively explained to the
candidate countries, including the Union development co-operation. Apart from the screening process, the
acceding countries have participated in a number of meetings, bilateral as well as multilateral, where
elements of the Union’s development co-operation have been discussed. Notably, a seminar was organised
by the Commission in July 2002, devoted to explaining the different aspects of the Union’s development
co-operation to the candidate countries and to exchange experiences and know-how between present and
future Member States.

few months, started to address the practical

The Commission has, over the past
implications of
enlargement for Union development policy and co-operation policy in a more systematic way. The
Member of the Commission responsible for development travelled to Prague in December 2002 with the
objective of increasing public awareness on development aspects of enlargement in acceding countries and
he is scheduled to participate in a Ministerial Conference in Berlin in April 2003. The Director General for
Development attended several Seminars held in acceding countries (Slovenia, Poland, Czech Republic)
aimed at explaining Union development policy. He will visit Copenhagen in March 2003 to participate in
a Seminar on Development and enlargement. The Commission is actively participating in workshops and
seminars devoted specifically to development issues (Bonn, Vienna).

Union Development Director Generals have put the topic on the agenda of their informal meetings and a
meeting was held in February 2003 dedicated entirely to the subject of enlargement.

In the period between the conclusion of the Accession Negotiations and the date of accession, the
intensify its monitoring of the acceding countries to guarantee that the countries’
Commission will
legislation and practices are brought into line with Union standards. The acceding countries’ efforts to
prepare for taking part in the Union’s development co-operation is evaluated in this context. In this
respect, candidate countries need to ensure their administrative capacity to participate in the shaping of
the development co-operation and the capacity to contribute financially to the European Development
Fund.

(2004/C 88 E/0009)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0278/03

by Gianfranco Dell’Alba (NI) to the Commission

(7 February 2003)

Subject: Irregularities in the election process in Cambodia

Is the Commission aware that serious shortcomings and irregularities are marring the ongoing voter
registration process in Cambodia and, if not redressed in time, will distort the will of the Cambodian
people that the 27 July 2003 parliamentary election is supposed to reflect, and in particular that:

(cid:1) discriminatory measures and practices at the commune level are preventing some 1,5 million citizens
(out of 6,8 million eligible voters) from registering, with the effect of depriving them of their right to
vote on polling day;

(cid:1) these discriminatory measures and practices include: difficulties for Buddhist monks to register;
excessive requirements for proof of residency and/or citizenship, which many citizens cannot fulfil;
time limitation to three to five days for citizens to register in many villages; red tape, apathy or
local authorities with the effect of slowing down or
administrative harassment on the part of
preventing registration; restrictions on voter information and voter education programmes designed to
encourage citizens to register.

Moreover, the ruling former Communist Party has set up the whole election machinery without any
consultation with the civil society and the opposition represented in Parliament.