WRITTEN QUESTION E-2121/03 by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission. Developing infrastructure and promoting employment in Madagascar.
Date: 2003-06-25
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, EU financing, European Development Fund, European Investment Bank, Madagascar, development aid, development policy, job creation

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/395

On the other hand in order to assess the raised pharmacovigilance signals on venous thromboembolism,
COCs and HRT are involved in a specific study and review at the Pharmacovigilance working group of the
CPMP. There is not yet a definitive scientific position as the evaluation is going on.

In addition, the Commission is financing the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition
(EPIC). This study might also contribute to unravelling an increased or decreased, but so far unknown,
relative risk for breast cancer linked to COC and/or HRT.

(2004/C 78 E/0418)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2121/03

by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission

(25 June 2003)

Subject: Developing infrastructure and promoting employment in Madagascar

Can the Commission inform us of the various types of aid, measures, programmes and/or budget lines that
can be used for development measures in Madagascar, particularly:

1.

2.

3.

4.

in the renewable energy sector (including wind energy), in a country which depends essentially on
hydrocarbon imports;

for promoting reafforestation (given that the country has seen 65 % of its forests disappear);

for building rural villages, using bricks as the raw material, an activity which creates a great many jobs
and whose objective is to establish populations in their place of origin in the best possible conditions;

for building tourist villages or complexes which could generate employment and steady incomes for
local populations?

Can the EDF (European Development Fund) be called upon to contribute to such projects, and in
accordance with which procedures?

Can the Commission also tell us what facilities are offered by the EIB to promote all or some of these
projects?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(4 August 2003)

The Community has allocated,
the 9th European Development Fund (EDF),
development aid to Madagascar for a total amount of EUR 327 million for the period 2002-2007. Main
sectors of intervention, agreed with the Madagascar Government, are transport, rural development and
food security, macro-economic support and good governance, with particular attention to actions aimed at
strengthening civil society by developing representation and legitimacy.

in the framework of

EDF development aid is complemented by yearly contributions from the Community budget, particularly
for food aid.

1.
There is not an explicit policy on promoting renewable energy in the present country co-operation
strategy. However in the past, some micro hydro-electrical plants have been financed. Besides, there are
not initiatives in this specific sector at national level or promoted by other donors and windmills and solar
energy would require substantial investments, which the target group is not able to sustain at this stage.

2.
Reforestation is foreseen in the framework of the 9th EDF rural development programme in the
context of watershed development interventions. In addition, in the context of the budget line ‘Tropical
Forests’, community-based management of plantation forests is promoted.

C 78 E/396

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Through its micro-projects/decentralised co-operation, the Commission has been funding housing for

3.
homeless people.

The Commission finances an integrated tourist/rural development programme for the Bemahara Park,

4.
which includes promoting local capacity of tourist guides and tourist services.

Regarding employment,
supported by all the programmes foreseen by the 9th EDF development aid.

its generation is linked to the overall re-activation of the economy, which is

Concerning EDF programmes and projects, the Madagascar Government presents detailed proposals to the
Commission for approval and funding within the above-mentioned sectors agreed as part of the country
strategy for the EDF.

Concerning the European Investment Bank (EIB), Madagascar, as well as other African, Caribbean and
Pacific States (ACP), will benefit from the new EUR 2,4 billion Investment facility recently launched. EIB
intends to promote, through this instrument, the private sector and to fight poverty in the beneficiary
countries.

(2004/C 78 E/0419)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2123/03

by Isabelle Caullery (UEN) to the Commission

(25 June 2003)

Subject: Promotion of renewable energy sources and waste processing in Mauritius

Can the Commission inform us of the various types of aid, measures, programmes and/or budget lines that
can be used to promote the development of renewable energy sources, particularly wind energy,
in
Mauritius? Can the EDF (European Development Fund) be called upon to contribute, and in accordance
with which procedures?

Since landfill no longer seems to be a viable long-term solution for Mauritius, can the Commission answer
the same questions with regard to encouraging the installation of waste incinerators that produce clean
energy?

With regard to both renewable energy sources and waste incinerators, can the EIB’s traditional and new
instruments be brought into play to promote non-polluting and sustainable development in Mauritius?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2003)

Since the 5th European Development Fund (EDF) several programmes have been implemented regarding
renewable energy sources for Mauritius and the island countries of the South Indian Ocean region. As part
of the Denroi (Développement des énergies renouvelables pour la zone Océan Indien) regional project.
A wind energy pilot programme was financed in Mauritius in the late eighties. This pilot project suffered
from a lack of ownership and maintenance; ultimately the units were damaged during the cyclone seasons.

The private sector has been hesitant about setting up wind energy farms. It is understood that this is due
to exposure of the island to cyclone-force winds during an almost half-year long season.

More successful has been the generation of electricity from thermal plants fuelled by bagasse, a natural
by-product of sugar cane. Currently this technology, operated fully by the private sector, is providing
around 30 % of energy delivered to the grid and there are plans to replace fossil-fuel powered plants by
this mode to account for up to 50 % of the national energy requirements. The European Investment Bank
(EIB) is the primary financing partner of these private-sector initiatives.