WRITTEN QUESTION E-1033/03 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. Famine in Africa.
Date: 2003-03-28
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Eritrea, Ethiopia, cooperation policy, emergency aid, food aid, food safety, humanitarian aid, hunger, voluntary organisation

C 78 E/26

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The Commission is not in a position to comment on ongoing criminal investigations in Serbia. Serbia has
taken decisive action against organized crime and political extremism in recent weeks, which appears to be
bearing fruit.

The Commission immediately reacted by discussing possible further assistance with the authorities,
enhancing the Union’s already very generous support. It is obviously important to do what we can to
underpin the democratic, political and economic reforms necessary for a properly functioning State Union
of Serbia and Montenegro.

As an example of this continued assistance, the Community 2003 Annual Program for Serbia (CARDS (cid:1)
EUR 229 million in 2003), which is in the process of adoption, includes substantial aid for justice and
home affairs and institution building. The Commission has also spelt out possible additional support
measures, including macro-economic financial assistance, technical advice, coordination of Member States’
efforts and enhanced trade opportunities, in a joint letter with Mr Javier Solana sent to Union’s Foreign
Ministers in advance of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 14 April 2003.

(2004/C 78 E/0028)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1033/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(28 March 2003)

Subject: Famine in Africa

The Commission is undoubtedly aware of the recent report from Nairobi in which the FAO points out that
14 million people in Ethiopia (cid:1) out of a total population of 63 million (cid:1) urgently need food aid. So far,
the international organisations fighting famine have only managed to secure 40 % of the minimum
requirement. Even if the ration of cereals per person is cut to 12,5 kilos (cid:1) compared to the 15 kilos
considered necessary for survival (cid:1) stocks will run out by June. In statistical terms, the situation is even
worse in Eritrea, where, out of a total population of 3,5 million, 2 million persons are in need of food,
while current stocks will last until the end of April at best. Meanwhile, more than 28 % of children under
five are suffering from severe malnutrition. Eritrea is also suffering from widespread livestock losses caused
by the devastating drought that has ravaged the country for four years.

In the light of the above, will the Commission say:

1. what aid has been given to Ethiopia and Eritrea?

2.

in the light of the fall in cereal crops (four fifths lower than the average for the last decade), what
measures it has taken or plans to take in cooperation with the FAO to help production to recover?

3. whether it intends to promote the training of farmers in particularly suitable cultivation techniques in

order to help achieve this objective?

4. whether it believes priority should be given to promoting projects to identify and exploit aquifers, in
cooperation with the governments of the drought-affected countries and other international humani-
tarian agencies?

5. whether the Commission is cooperating with charity organisations operating in the African regions

concerned to achieve these goals, in addition to humanitarian aid activities?

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/27

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(8 May 2003)

The Commission is indeed aware of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Report on the current
food crisis in Ethiopia, even if it does not share its claims in terms of the numbers of people affected
(which were revised down to EUR 11,3 million for Ethiopia in December 2002) and, by extension, the
percentage of needs met. The assertion that more than 28 % of children under five are suffering from
severe malnutrition in Eritrea is also extremely doubtful, and is unfortunately an illustration of the
tendency amongst certain involved partners to present an exaggerated picture of emergency situations.

This being said, the food crisis in the Horn of Africa is of course very real, even if (cid:1) through greatly
improved early warning systems and generous donor response (cid:1) it has not developed into a catastrophic
famine such as has been known in the past.

The Commission itself has made an unprecedented response to the crisis in Ethiopia and Eritrea, and,
together with Member States, has covered some 35-40 % of the assessed food needs to end-2003. A table
is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

However, a high priority for the Commission in terms of policy objectives, for Ethiopia in particular, is to
support efforts to achieve food security, since some four to five million Ethiopians are predictably food
insecure, for structural reasons, every year (cid:1) including years of good harvests. For this reason, the
Commission has set aside in its 9th European Development Fund allocation for Ethiopia a sum of EUR 54
million for programmes in support of food security. The programmes to be funded under this allocation
are now being identified and appraised, but are likely to include the improvement of livestock health
services, improved access to water points and support for an improved grain marketing system.

The Commission is cooperating and will undoubtedly continue to cooperate with charity organisations
operating in the food insecure countries of Africa to support food security, as well as of course in
humanitarian aid activities.

(2004/C 78 E/0029)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1289/03

by Elly Plooij-van Gorsel (ELDR) to the Commission

(4 April 2003)

Subject: Disruption of market access to the People’s Republic of China for photographic products: specific

import tariffs not complying with WTO agreements

Since 1997 the People’s Republic of China has imposed an import tariff on photographic products, in the
form of a specific duty calculated in renminbi per product unit (measured in square metres).

In connection with its accession to the World Trade Organisation China has undertaken to phase out this
specific tariff and replace it with an ad valorem tariff. These commitments are set out in the bilateral
agreement between the European Union and China and in the protocol on China’s accession to the WTO.
In January 2002, however, China announced that it would maintain the specific import tariffs on
photographic products. This is not compatible with the WTO agreements.

As an illustration, in 2002 China committed itself to a 42 % ad valorem import tariff on rolls of 35mm
film. However, in practice China has imposed a specific tariff of 155 renminbi per square metre. This has
resulted in an effective ad valorem tariff of 89 %. This specific tariff thus exceeds the authorised limit.

1.

Is the Commission aware of these specific levies per product unit on various photographic products?

Does it consider that this constitutes an illegal tariff barrier under China’s obligations within the

2.
World Trade Organisation?