WRITTEN QUESTION E-1706/03 by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Medstat and Medstat II programmes.
Date: 2003-05-22
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU financing, Union for the Mediterranean, aid programme, aid recipient, distribution of aid, statistics

8.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/615

(cid:1) Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) that are
properly carried out should identify risks and possible mitigation measures in this respect. Strategic
Environmental Assessments, which are to be carried out at sectoral
level, would be the ideal
instruments. The revised manual will ensure that proper attention is given to bushmeat issues in SEA.

(cid:1) Several projects or programmes financed by Community funds deal with bushmeat issues. Ecofac
(Ecosystèmes forestiers d’Afrique centrale), financed under European Development Fund (EDF) regional
funds, MIKE (Monitoring illegal killing of elephants)
financed by the budget line B7-6200 and
‘Développement d’un mode de gestion faune dans les grands massifs forestiers d’Afrique Centrale (cid:1)
Projet pilote au nord-est du Gabon’ a new project financed under the Budget line B7-6200 are among
those, and results of these projects could serve as case studies and promotion of good practices.

Efforts are also being directed at limiting the trade in illegal bush meat to the Union. For example, a
Commission Decision (1) has recently introduced new rules that prevent the personal import of all meat
and milk from third countries into the Union. This removes previous derogations that allowed the
importation of small consignments of meat and milk for personal use. The introduction of the new rules
on personal imports is being supported by a poster campaign in a wide range of languages. The posters
are on display at points of entry into the European Union to ensure that all travellers are made aware of
the new rules.

(1) Commission Decision 2002/995/EC of 9 December 2002 laying down interim safeguard measures with regard to

imports of products of animal origin for personal consumption, OJ L 353, 30.12.2002.

(2004/C 88 E/0635)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1706/03

by Gabriele Stauner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(22 May 2003)

Subject: Medstat and Medstat II programmes

Since 1996 the Commission has made an amount of EUR 50 million available from the Community
budget for the Medstat and Medstat II programmes.

This money was to be used to support and promote the statistical systems of partner countries in the
Mediterranean area.

Can the Commission provide a detailed list of the beneficiaries of these funds, showing how much was
paid in each individual case?

Can the Commission say who takes the decisions on the allocation of funds under this programme and on
the basis of what criteria and procedures the beneficiaries are selected?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(15 July 2003)

Medstat (cid:1) Euro-Mediterranean Statistical cooperation (cid:1) Phase 1: EUR 20 million

Medstat (cid:1) Euro-Mediterranean Statistical cooperation (cid:1) Phase 2: EUR 30 million

Medstat Phase 1

The Medstat programme does not concern direct support but provision of technical assistance, transfer of
know how, harmonization and exchange of data, etc.

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Official Journal of the European Union

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8.4.2004

The beneficiaries under the Medstat programme are the National Statistical Institutes (NSIs) of the 12
Mediterranean partner countries. Other beneficiaries are all the Mediterranean institutions which are
involved in collecting, compiling and disseminating final statistics and meta data, and which thus comprise
(cid:1) together with the NSIs (cid:1) what are generally known as the Mediterranean National Statistical Systems
(NSSs). The programme is also useful for the main users of statistical data, including governments in
connection with the formulation of economic, social and sectoral policies.

The indicative breakdown earmarked in the financing proposal approved by the Commission in July 1996,
for direct assistance to the Statistical Systems (first of all the statistical offices) of the Mediterranean partner
countries was as follows:

Regional projects and Tasks forces

Study visits and consultancies

Informatics and infrastructure

Training

Seminars and Working groups

Management and Steering Committees

Programme Management

Data bases and diffusion

(euros)

6 305 000

4 320 000

3 000 000

2 466 000

806 000

622 200

1 800 000

680 800

Total

20 000 000

A detailed table showing the list of projects, the names of the consultants, and the foreseen amounts and
disbursements up to now, as well as the remaining balance (Annex 1) is sent direct to the Honourable
Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

Medstat Phase 2

As for Medstat 2, it provides for the continuation of the actions undertaken as part of Medstat 1, and the
project document prepared in 2001, shows indicatively, the following breakdown:

Med (cid:1) Training

MED IS (Information System)

MED-Comext (External Trade)

MED-NA (National Accounts)

MED-ENV (Environment)

MED-MIGR (Migration)

MED-TOUR (Tourism)

MED-TRANS (Transport)

MED-AGRI (Agriculture)

MED-SOC (Social statistics)

Provision for potential additional projects

Final evaluation

Management of the programme

Contingencies

(euros)

3 000 000

2 700 000

3 000 000

3 000 000

2 000 000

2 000 000

1 800 000

1 500 000

2 500 000

2 500 000

2 000 000

500 000

1 000 000

2 500 000

Total

30 000 000

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the Directorates General

The Directors’ Committee brings together at least once a year the Presidents and Directors-General of the
statistical services of the Euro-Mediterranean partner countries, including European Free Trade Association
(EFTA) countries,
Its
discussion focuses on the decisions and strategic guidelines to be adopted. Its work also involves a critical
report on activities since the previous meeting and guidelines for work in the short and medium term. The
so-defined priorities and guidelines provide the input for the management of the programme, and give
indications on the necessary means to be allotted. On the basis of this information, the Commission
decides on the financing of these actions.

(DG) of External Relations, EuropeAid and Eurostat.

Medstat Phase 1. The financing proposal approved by the Commission in July 1996 stipulated in its
‘Implementation procedures’, that ‘The regional programme of statistical cooperation will be
Article V,
coordinated by the Commission (Eurostat and DG EuropeAid)
in cooperation with national statistical
offices of EU Member States. The programme will be implemented by the’ Centre Européen de Statistiques
et de Développement (CESD) network.

Medstat Phase 2. For the second phase of the programme, it was decided to see whether, for such a special
assignment, competitive bidding can yield results. Consequently, a restricted call for tender has been
launched in the second half of 2002. The tender procedure is still under process.

(2004/C 88 E/0636)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1716/03

by Mogens Camre (UEN) to the Commission

(23 May 2003)

Subject: Poul Nielsen’s statements on the USA’s presence in Iraq

On Friday 9 May 2003, the EU Commissioner for Development made a number of remarks which sowed
doubts about the USA’s intentions in Iraq, including: ‘I believe that the USA is on its way to becoming a
member of OPEC like this. They are appropriating the oil. It is very difficult to make sense of it otherwise’.

These remarks are totally unacceptable. The USA’s presence in Iraq is to ensure that the country does not
collapse and that the revenue from Iraqi oil is used to transform Iraq into a modern, democratic society
free of
live with dictatorships that perpetrate terrorism
internally and externally. Anyone with a modicum of insight realises that it would be a disaster for the
Iraqis if the coalition left the country now and allowed the warring factions to wreck the country’s future.

Islamic fundamentalism. The world cannot

Since the Commission is a collegiate body which does not allow Commissioners to hold diverging views
issues, will the Commission say whether Poul Nielsen’s remarks reflect the Commission’s
on political
official position on the presence of the international coalition in Iraq?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

What the Member of the Commission responsible for Development actually said, and the underlying
reasoning behind the statement, is the following: Without the United Nations being given a decisive role in
the reconstruction phase, it is very difficult for the United States to avoid slipping into the role of the
power-bearer and the controller of the oil. The core issue to get across is that the only way to avoid that
problem is to whole-heartedly promote multilateralism and legitimacy. This can only be assured if it is not
the occupying power that governs. If the occupying power does not take a step back when it comes to the
establishment of the system and the allocation of considerable oil resources (which only the United
Nations’s involvement can legitimise), there is a risk that those Iraqis appointed by the United States are
not perceived as the right choice by other Iraqis, and broad support among the Iraqi population is key to
stability and normalisation for the future Iraq.