WRITTEN QUESTION E-4020/03 by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission. Congo river basin.
Date: 2004-01-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Democratic Republic of the Congo, EU financing, cooperation policy, environmental cooperation, use of aid

C 84 E/286

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The Commission is not aware of any practical problems arising for EU airlines in third countries due to
the non-standardised use of the European flag.

(2004/C 84 E/0332)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4020/03

by Margrietus van den Berg (PSE) to the Commission

(9 January 2004)

Subject: Congo river basin

At its meeting of 2 December 2003 the Committee on Development and Cooperation invited Mr Henri
Djombo, Minister of Forestry and the Environment (Congo), to present the Republic of the Congo’s
environmental programme, which is partly funded by the European Union, with particular reference to
conservation of the environment in the Congo river basin. After this introduction, a film was shown.

1.

2.

To what extent have these fine words been translated into practical achievements in this area?

On what exactly were the European Union funds spent?

3. Why has the European Union’s contribution been reduced?

Answer given by M. Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(10 March 2004)

At the meeting of 2 December 2003 Mr Henri Djombo, the Republic of Congo’s Minister of Forestry and
the Environment, presented to Parliament’s Committee on Development and Cooperation the Republic’s
environment programme, which includes conservation of the environment in the Congo river basin and is
partly funded by the European Union. This was followed by the showing of a film.

The European Commission provides funds for environmental activities in the Republic of Congo through
the regional programme for the Conservation and Rational Use of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa
(Ecofac). The Republic of Congo’s share of the programme mainly concerns the Odzala national park
(13 500 km2)
in the north of the country. The Commission is planning further instalments of the
programme, which is currently in its third phase. Both regional and national funds will be contributing to
the programme. Plans for the fourth phase are undergoing appraisal and the intention is to start up
activities early in 2005. A further programme for the Republic on its own (Developing protected areas) is
also being examined with a view to allocating it a total EUR 2 million from the resources of the National
Indicative Programme (NIP).

European Union funds which directly or indirectly benefit the environment in the Republic of Congo have
been allocated mainly to:

(cid:1) managing the Odzala national park (infrastructure maintenance, equipping staff, various renovations,

monitoring animal populations, park surveillance, anti-poaching operations, developing ecotourism);

(cid:1) development measures which benefit people living in the vicinity and implementation of three

sections of the eighth European Development Fund (EDF) micro-project programme;

(cid:1) training of management and local staff;

(cid:1) support for national and regional institutions via the Network of protected areas in Central Africa

(RAPAC);

(cid:1) managing production forests in consultation and partnership with the companies exploiting forest

resources.

The European Union is contributing more to this programme in percentage terms than it did under earlier
EDF programmes, namely 25 % or EUR 14 million of the Regional Indicative Programme (RIP) for Central

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Official Journal of the European Union

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Africa. However, in absolute terms this is less than previously because the total allocated to the region
under the ninth EDF is lower and because the Republic of Congo is now part of the regions of East Africa
(Comesa (1) IGAD (2), COI (3), EAC (4)) and Southern Africa (SADC (5)). But the various NIPs will also be
contributing, namely EUR 3,3 million to Gabon, EUR 4 million to Cameroon and EUR 2 million to the
Republic of Congo (cid:1) although the latter has yet to be confirmed. Then, given the importance of the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for the forests of the Congo river basin, it cannot be left out of any
regional programme, and this means contributing to the regional funds for which the DRC is eligible.
The DRC requested support totalling some EUR 10 million from the Regional Indicative Programmes
for East Africa agreed to provide
(RIPs)
EUR 5 million on condition that SADC did the same, the SADC regional body has so far refused, which
means that the DRC cannot participate in the regional programme. The DRC has therefore resubmitted its
application to SADC and a SADC Council decision is expected early in March. If this Council hands down
a favourable decision, the global amounts allocated to further work on the conservation of Central African
forest ecosystems will be roughly the same as those granted for earlier phases of the programme and will
enable the DRC to rejoin the local actions and partnership processes inherent in the political initiative that
is the Congo Basin Forest Partnership.

for East Africa and Southern Africa. Whilst

the IRCC (6)

(1) Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.
(2)
Intergovernmental Authority on Development.
(3)
Indian Ocean Commission.
(4) East African Community.
(5) Southern Africa Development Community.
(6)
Inter Regional Co-ordinating Committee.

(2004/C 84 E/0333)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-4035/03

by Helena Torres Marques (PSE) to the Commission

(5 January 2004)

Subject: Implementation in Portugal of the regulation on automobile distribution

At a meeting held on 9 December 2003 in Brussels by the Association of European Automobile
1.
Constructors, the chairman of that association (Mr Louis Schweitz, chairman and CEO of Renault) said
that, in the wake of the new regulation on automobile distribution, manufacturers would harmonise the
basic prices of motorcars sold in the various EU countries.

It was pointed out to Mr Schweitz (who agreed) that this would lead to an increase in the price of

2.
motorcars sold in Portugal.

Since the purpose of the new regulation on automobile distribution is the precise opposite (i.e. to
3.
bring about a reduction in the consumer price of motorcars, to increase the volume of sales and to cause
old cars to be replaced by newer models, with all the implications which that would entail in terms of
vehicle safety and a healthier environment), would the Commission give its views on this matter, which is
naturally causing the greatest concern amongst consumers and Portuguese automobile distributors?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(5 February 2004)

The Commission’s policy on competition in the motor vehicle sector has always been that motor vehicle
distributors, whether or not they are based in the same EU Member State, should be subject to free
competition. This approach, which is enshrined in the new block exemption regulation (1) which entered
into force on 1 October 2002, helps to create a single market in the motor vehicle sector and enables
today’s European consumers to take advantage of the best prices in the EU. For some manufacturers, this
process of integration of national markets is reflected in a policy of convergence of basic tax exclusive
prices for vehicles of the same make and model throughout the European Union.