WRITTEN QUESTION E-3959/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Africa — food shortage and security of food supply.
Date: 2004-01-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: AIDS, Africa, ECHO, EU aid, aid policy, economic consequence, epidemic, food aid, food shortage, humanitarian aid, security of supply

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Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

(2004/C 88 E/0673)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3936/03

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 December 2003)

Subject: Italtrend

Following recent reports in the press regarding the Italian public procurement company Italtrend:

(cid:1) What is the total value of Italtrend’s work with the Commission since 1999?

(cid:1) How many contracts have been awarded by the Commission to Italtrend since 1999?

(cid:1) How were each of these contracts awarded? Please give a detailed breakdown.

(cid:1) Were any of the contracts awarded through a restrictive tendering procedure?

(cid:1) Were any of the contracts awarded through direct agreement with the company?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 February 2004)

In relation to the replies the Commission has already given on this issue to European Voice as well as to
written question E-3586/03 by Mr Borghezio (1), should be noted that, on 31st December 2003, the total
value of Italtrend’s work with the Commission since the 1st September 1999 in the area of external aid is
EUR 7,97 million, corresponding to the value of contracts signed with Italtrend in this area since the
above-mentioned date. The number of contracts signed over this same period is 49.

From these 49 contracts a total of 43 are service contracts below EUR 200 000 awarded within the so-
called framework contract. The framework contract was subject to tendering published in the Official
Journal of the European Union. Further to this procedure open to competition, 58 companies were short-
listed for subsequent consultation for award of short term service contracts below EUR 200 000.

From the other six contracts, one was awarded through call for proposals, two were awarded by restricted
tender further to publication of procurement notice in the Official Journal of the European Union, one
through negotiated procedure and two through direct agreement.

(1) OJ C 84 E, 3.4.2004, p. 508.

(2004/C 88 E/0674)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3959/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: Africa (cid:1) food shortage and security of food supply

(5 January 2004)

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has issued a warning in respect of the food shortage
(due to poor harvests and the existence of conflicts) which is threatening 23 African countries, including
Angola, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and Somalia.

The FAO’s report makes the point that, in certain regions, drought is having a particularly serious effect
and that Somalia is concerned at the ‘serious humanitarian crisis’ which has arisen on the Sool plateau: it is
estimated that, in that country alone, 93 000 people are in need of emergency humanitarian and food aid,
whilst in Eritrea, 1,4 million people may require food aid.

In West Africa the FAO believes Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania to be at risk of a food shortage.

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in Côte d’Ivoire, whereas in Liberia and Sierra Leone the food situation is
The situation is identical
improving on account of the return of refugees, who are injecting fresh impetus into the agriculture
practise in those countries.

Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo may be described as problem countries in which
insecurity continues to prevail.

FAO data reveal Zimbabwe to be one of the countries most at risk of a food shortage.

The Agriculture and Food Organisation forecasts that, in Angola, food aid sufficient for 1,4 million people
will be required.

According to the above organisation’s report, the AIDS epidemic in Africa is having a devastating effect on
the security of the food supply in sub-Saharan Africa.

In view of the above, would the Commission answer the following questions:

(cid:1) What information does the Commission hold regarding the shortages reported by the FAO?

(cid:1) Has the European Union taken (or is it intending to take) any additional or complementary action

designed to remedy the humanitarian emergency to which the FAO’s warning relates?

(cid:1) What does the Commission consider to be the main contribution which the EU could make in

response to this emergency?

(cid:1) In what way is the Commission in contact with local governments with a view to ensuring that any

aid made available to the people in need is put to good use?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(23 February 2004)

The Commission is aware of the assessment presented in the Food Supply Situation in Sub-Sahara
1.
Africa report of the United Nations’ (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) published in December
2003. Indeed, since 1999, the Commission has contributed up to EUR 5 million annually to the FAO’s
activities in food security assessment in developing countries, and especially to the Food Insecurity and
Vulnerability Mapping System and to the Early Warning and Food Security Information System. Therefore,
the FAO is an important part of the information used by the Commission to ascertain the situation in each
country and prepare a response.

Since 1996 the Commission has recruited Food Security experts to assist its Delegations in most of the
emergency prone countries of the Southern and Horn of Africa regions. These experts are responsible for
monitoring the food security situation in their country of residence.

Since the FAO/World Food Programme (WFP) joint needs assessment in crisis-prone countries represents
the starting point for Community Food Aid programming, the Commission pays great attention to the
content and the quality of the assessment report. Since last year, the Commission has been developing a
strategic dialogue with the WFP and FAO on Crop and Food Supply Assessment Missions (CFSAM) and
Emergency Needs Assessments (ENA) in order to increase the assessment reliability when a crisis occurs

the European Food Security experts have participated as ‘observers’

in the WFP/FAO
Since 2003,
assessment team missions. Their reports are discussed in the country and at headquarters and feeds into
the Commission / FAO-WFP strategic dialogue with additional information and analysis. In addition, data
on the food security situation are also collected and analysed locally by its Delegations and its experts in
the field.

The humanitarian needs of the countries are also routinely being assessed by the European Humanitarian
Aid Office (ECHO) staff visiting the countries mentioned in the FAO report. These experts’ inputs provide
complementary views to help the Commission. This exercise aims at improving the programming of the
Commission interventions.

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The Commission establishes annually a list of countries which have priority in the programming of
2.
emergency food security assistance. In establishing such a list the FAO assessments are taken duly into
consideration.

The Commission seeks the best way for people subject to food shortage to return as quickly as

3.
possible to a normal food situation. Responses to such emergency situations are twofold:

(cid:1) first, when food deficits are demonstrated and cannot be filled through market mechanisms, food-aid

may be provided;

(cid:1) second, structural interventions will be prepared in order to address the root causes of food insecurity.
Such interventions might be in the field of rural development, health, markets development, social
safety nets, etc …

Decisions on resource allocation are taken on a case by case basis.

As an illustration, the Honourable Member may find below some recent country examples:

(cid:1) Somalia: there is a crisis on the Sool Plateau. In spite of some rains in December 2003 and January
2004, the food security situation remains very difficult, lack of water being at least as critical as lack
of food. The Commission made an allocation of EUR 4 million in December 2003 to respond to these
needs. The programme will be implemented by the FAO. In parallel, a number of non-governmental
organisations (NGO) actions in the field of food security are ongoing.

(cid:1) Zimbabwe: The Commission globally agrees with the 2003 FAO/WFP Crop and Needs Assessments.
The Commission has responded substantially in 2003 to the food crisis: EUR 32 million have been
allocated to WFP, representing about 86 000 tonnes of maize and EUR 8 million have been allocated
to a consortium of NGOs (Euronaid) for the distribution food and non food items. A further support
of EUR 20 million through WFP is currently being prepared, bringing the total contribution from the
Commission to EUR 60 million. Additionally, ECHO has made available a EUR 25 million in non-food
humanitarian assistance, bringing the total Commission humanitarian assistance to EUR 85 million.
Further assistance will be required in 2004 in conjunction with other donors as the situation remains
critical.

The Commission actively engages with other donors and supports the work of the Humanitarian
Coordinator to ensure full transparency of the humanitarian assistance operations.

(cid:1) Mauritania: the country has a structural food deficit: 80 % of the food needs are imported. The 2003
season has been very bad and the government has launched an emergency plan to which the
Commission has contributed up to 15 000 t of cereals. The Commission has been supporting a
structural food security plan since 1998 by contributing to a food reserve (EUR 19 million), financing
of micro-projects and improving the functioning of the administration’s food security body.

(cid:1) Côte d’Ivoire: in the current situation, it is difficult to assess the level of country needs. Through WFP
the Commission provides support
targeted towards vulnerable populations (internally displaced
persons, refugees, women with young babies, school canteens). EUR 6 million are planned for 2003-
2004. Furthermore,
in 2003 the Commission provided non-food humanitarian assistance worth
EUR 5,74 million via ECHO. The same level of assistance is envisaged in 2004. ECHO assistance
includes aid to the resettlement of displaced persons as well as projects to improve the nutritional
status of the population.

Food aid and food security actions supported by the Commission are carried out by NGOs and
4.
international organisations in close collaboration with national governments. The monitoring and follow-
up of these actions are ensured by these organisations, which also have to provide reports to the donors.
The results and impact on the beneficiary populations is monitored by the EC experts in the Commission
Delegations. The Commission considers
in
implementation, the populations targeted are reached in a satisfactory manner.

that, although there may occasionally be difficulties

The Commission fully agrees that the scope of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, in particular in Southern Africa,
will have profound consequences for agricultural production, life expectancy, levels of malnutrition and
mortality. Opportunistic infections usually associated with AIDS will mean that the health systems of the

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countries, already under strain, will be faced with even more daunting challenges. In this respect the
Commission has approved in 2000 an ambitious Action Plan on AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis which
fosters an holistic approach to fight the pandemics which includes specific actions across all sectors of
society including agriculture. Governments are increasing reflecting this approach in their sector policies
and strategies.

(2004/C 88 E/0675)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3972/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 January 2004)

Subject: Campaign in Bulgaria against distribution and management of funds for civil society development

by the EU delegation in Sofia and ways of assuaging the associated annoyance

Is the Commission aware that concern is growing in Bulgaria about the distribution and management
1.
of EU funds for civil society development, which is reflected in a campaign by members of Parliament
entitled ‘Clean hands for the non-profit sector’, the drafting of a law on transparency and involvement of
NGOs in the distribution of EU funds, publicity in Bulgarian newspapers, an e-mail bombardment under
the official concerned and proposed wider
the title ‘Isabel must go’, plans for legal action against
campaigns in January 2004?

2.
Is the Commission aware that the concern referred to above and the consequent campaigns are
particularly directed against the conduct of the civil society adviser at the EU delegation in Sofia, who is
accused of interfering unnecessarily with the internal decision-making of Bulgarian NGOs, basing her
decisions on the allocation of funds primarily on her own preferences, excluding critics of her policy from
the allocation of funds a priori and behaving in an arrogant and intimidating manner towards everyone
who disagrees with her?

3.
Does the Commission agree that, while this adviser’s behaviour may be said to have a positive aspect,
namely that she has succeeded in uniting Bulgarians, Turks and Roma in such a way that they are of one
opinion, it would be preferable for this to be achieved in some other manner than by inspiring unanimous
indignation at the conduct of one or more officials representing the EU?

4. What will the Commission do, in so far as possible and at the earliest opportunity, to assuage the
growing annoyance about the approach to the EU’s involvement in Bulgaria?

(2004/C 88 E/0676)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3973/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 January 2004)

Subject: National Council for Ethnic and Demographic Issues (NCEDI) ignored when allocating EU funds

for social participation in Bulgaria

Is

the Commission aware of

1.
the controversy surrounding Social Participation Programme
BG 0102.06, whose purpose is to support the social and economic integration of the Roma, other ethnic
in which connection, without consulting either the
minorities and people with disabilities in Bulgaria,
National Council for Ethnic and Demographic Issues (NCEDI) or the Ministry of Culture, as stipulated, the
EU delegation in Sofia unilaterally took a final decision on the allocation of EUR 7 million, namely that
EUR 2 500 000 should be spent on civil society development and EUR 4 500 000 on integration of the
Roma and people with disabilities?

2. Why was it that, as a result of the above decision, out of the 20 proposed projects those selected did
not include the improvement of the 12 best Roma cultural and information centres but a centre in Sofia, a
centre in Sliven and two centres in the coastal settlement of Varna, in which connection the assessment of
the urgency of the last of these projects caused particular astonishment and serious disappointment,
especially in the country’s second city, Plovdiv, which has a large Roma population?