WRITTEN QUESTION E-4077/03 by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission. NGOs.
Date: 2004-01-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: ECHO, EU financing, administration of the Institutions, humanitarian aid, non-governmental organisation

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/669

Regarding the EU arms embargo on China, the European Council of 12 December 2003 invited the
General Affairs Council to re-examine the question. A first discussion took place at the January 2004
General Affairs Council. Work in the relevant Council groups is ongoing and a decision is not expected
before March 2004.

(2004/C 88 E/0687)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4058/03

by Elspeth Attwooll (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 January 2004)

Subject: Gun laws in Turkey

In the first five months of 2003, 1094 people were killed and 10 513 were injured by guns in Turkey. On
7 July 2003, two-and-a-half-year-old Alistair Grimason was shot by a stray bullet while sleeping in a
pushchair in a café. The Turkish Government has since made moves to tighten its laws on firearms crime.

Is the Commission aware of these statistics, and can it confirm whether it will consider matters such as the
prevalence of firearms and the legislation on firearm possession and gun crimes, when considering the
application of countries for EU membership?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(20 February 2004)

The Commission is aware of the disturbing facts mentioned by the Honourable Member and shares her
concern regarding the number of gun-related deaths and injuries in Turkey.

The question of firearms control
is not covered specifically by the Copenhagen political criteria. All
Candidate Countries are required to accede to the 2000 United Nations (UN) Convention against
Transnational Organised Crime (the Palermo Convention) and its Protocols. Turkey has acceded to the
Convention and signed on 28 June 2002 the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking
in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition. Turkey has not yet ratified this Protocol. The
Commission will continue to monitor progress on this issue.

(2004/C 88 E/0688)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4077/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 January 2004)

Subject: NGOs

What requirements does the Commission insist upon in order for an organisation to be recognised as an
NGO of sufficient legitimacy for it to be granted EU funding to assist with humanitarian relief in particular
circumstances?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(3 March 2004)

Funding to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) called upon to provide relief assistance in natural or
man-made humanitarian crises is granted by the Commission through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).

C 88 E/670

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

8.4.2004

To be entitled to ECHO funding, humanitarian NGOs must undergo a selection procedure which may lead
to the signature of a Framework Partnership Agreement with ECHO. Such an agreement, which sets the
principles of collaboration between ECHO and humanitarian organisations, defines the respective roles,
rights and obligations and contains the legal provisions applicable to the humanitarian operations financed
by ECHO, also sets out the requirements NGOs must fulfil in order to become and remain ECHO-partners,
as well as the selection procedure applied by the Office in respect to NGOs.

The selection of partner-NGOs is based on well-defined eligibility and suitability criteria, some of which
stem from the regulatory framework of the Commission and others arise from the need for introducing
quality and accountability standards, as a result of the debate developed over the years within the civil
society and between ECHO and its partners.

Concerning the legal eligibility and suitability requirements, the selection criteria are guided by three
regulations: the Council Regulation on humanitarian aid (1), the Council Regulation applicable to the
general budget of the European Communities (2) and its Implementing Rules (3).

In particular, the eligibility criteria take into account the NGO’s country of registration (Article 7(1) of the
integrity of the organisation (Article 93 of Council
Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96), the moral
Regulation (EC) No 1605/2002) and the obligation to present financial statements audited by an external
professional body (Article 173(4) of Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002). Proof of
adhesion to a code of conduct stating the principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence in the
delivery of the aid is also requested. The suitability criteria take into account the NGO’s administrative,
operational and financial capacity (Article 7(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96), and in particular
its experience and specialisation in the humanitarian field. Amongst others, the budget percentage devoted
by the NGO to humanitarian aid activities and the use of minimum quality standards at different levels are
examined.

Before a partnership agreement is concluded with an NGO, ECHO verifies that it fulfils the eligibility and
suitability criteria through a range of means, which include information and documentation provided by
the organisation, consultation with the relevant national authorities, as well as verification audits carried
out by ECHO staff on the organisation’s premises. Once admitted to partnership, NGOs are checked on an
annual basis in order to verify that they keep complying with the eligibility requirements. Once admitted
to funding, partner NGOs and individual ECHO-funded projects are audited by ECHO’s representatives on
a regular basis, both at headquarters and in the field, usually no less than once a year.

All the details of the selection procedure applied by ECHO to NGOs are published on the Office’s web-
site (4). The text of the Framework Partnership Agreement is also available on the web; the requirements to
be fulfilled by NGOs are referred to in Title II, articles 6-14 of the Provisions.

(1) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid, OJ L 163, 2.7.1996.
(2) Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the

general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 248, 16.9.2002.

(3) Commission Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002 of 23 December 2002 laying down detailed rules for the
implementation of Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the
general budget of the European Communities, OJ L 357, 31.12.2002.

(4) http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/humanitarian_aid/index_en.htm

(2004/C 88 E/0689)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4081/03

by Chris Davies (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 January 2004)

Subject: Tuberculosis

The Global Drug Facility (GDF) has been successful in providing a reliable and cheap supply of high quality
TB drugs, serving nearly two million patients in 46 countries over the past two years.