WRITTEN QUESTION E-2308/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Africa — oil — poverty.
Date: 2003-07-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Africa, administrative transparency, cooperation policy, exploitation of resources, financial transaction, oil industry, petroleum, poverty

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/77

In view of the progressive consolidation of the rule of law and democratic principles in the country,
demonstrated by the recent elections, which were held in a regular manner, and since these values may be
strengthened and spread from Yemen throughout the region,

Does the Commission not consider that the time has come to act on the promises made and open a
Commission delegation in Sanaa?

Does the Commission not consider that this would help to encourage the Yemeni authorities to continue
along the road of consolidating democracy and the rule of law?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(16 September 2003)

The Commission acknowledges the remarkable progress made by Yemen in the consolidation of the rule
of law and democratic principles and very much agrees that a reinforcement of the relations between the
Commission and Yemen would further encourage this process of democratisation.

The Commission is considering transforming its existing office in Yemen into a sub-regional Delegation,
under the responsibility of the Delegation in Amman. This proposal is at present under review within the
context of the overall development of the External Service exercise. The Commission intends to submit a
Communication in due course.

(2004/C 88 E/0085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2308/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(14 July 2003)

Subject: Africa (cid:1) oil (cid:1) poverty

According to a study by ‘Catholic Relief Services’, an American NGO, the new investments being made in
oil in Africa are unlikely to eradicate poverty in the oil-producing countries, despite the fact that African
oil production is expected to double in ten years.

This is a shocking conclusion.

According to press reports the study was published on the Internet on the day that the British Prime
Minister met directors of petroleum companies in London (17 June this year) and urged them to make
their business dealings in Africa more transparent.

Can the Commission therefore say:

(cid:1) whether it has a copy of this study or other reliable reports on the subject;

(cid:1) what information it has regarding the activities of oil companies and the transparency of their

business dealings with the African oil-producing countries;

(cid:1) what measures it has taken or envisages taking to promote greater transparency on the part of the oil
companies based or operating in the Union who exploit petroleum resources in Africa, in order to
monitor the management and distribution of the wealth generated by oil, and what measures it has
taken or intends to take vis-à-vis the African countries in the context of existing cooperation relations;

C 88 E/78

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(cid:1) whether it agrees that it should prevent or restrict in any way the activities within the Union of oil
companies who are unwilling to clarify openly their commercial and industrial dealings with African
countries?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(10 September 2003)

The Commission is not aware of the specific study published by the Catholic Relief Services on the
incapacity of the investments in the oil sector to eradicate poverty in the oil producing countries.
However, the findings of the report, as they are published on the Catholic Relief Services’ web-site confirm
an existing trend. In fact, oil and mineral dependence are strongly associated with unusually bad conditions
for the poor. Oil development tends to further concentrate wealth among political and military élites,
which may be associated with undermining democracy and deteriorating human rights situations. Once
states become dependent on oil or mineral exports, they have difficulty diversifying their economy and
promoting sectors like agriculture and manufacturing, which provide greater direct benefits to the poor.
Finally, oil and mineral dependence becomes an obstacle to pro-poor types of economic activity.

The Commission does not have a detailed overview of the activities of oil companies in Africa. However,
several direct contacts with some proactive multinationals in the field of the oil and mining sectors have
taken place in the framework of the Commission strategy on Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Commission President Mr Prodi wrote a letter in 2002 to express his support for a campaign launched
in June 2002 to call on multinational companies to disclose payments they make to governments in poor
countries. This so-called ‘Publish What You Pay’ campaign is headed by Mr Soros and endorsed by more
than 30 lobby groups, including Amnesty International, Friends of the Earth and Save the Children. The
recently established European Multi-Stakeholder Forum will take note of the campaign and of companies’
best practices in its next Development Roundtable meeting on 29/30 September 2003. The Parliament is
part of the Forum as an observer. The issue of promoting Corporate Social Responsibility was identified
also by the report of the Catholic Relief Services as the most efficient way to tackle the problems provoked
by the oil and mining sectors in Africa.

It is not possible to restrict or prevent the activities of oil companies unwilling to publicise their payments.
Nevertheless, it is needed to promote more the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility and the role of
Civil Society at national level that could be a sort of watchdog with respect to those companies. Moreover,
the Commission expresses
the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD) Anti-Bribery Convention where the bribery of foreign public officials in the context
of international business transactions is a punishable offence.

support

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for

its

Finally it should be pointed out, that the Commission, in its regular political dialogues with several partner
countries, discusses issues relating to oil and mineral revenues, advocating clear and transparent integration
of these revenues in state budgets.

(2004/C 88 E/0086)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2321/03

by Freddy Blak (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(14 July 2003)

Subject: Number of Commission officials dealing with external relations

Could the Commission please provide a list of the number of Commission officials in DG-aidco, ECHO
and DG-dev broken down per programme and per country both in headquarters and in beneficiary
countries?