WRITTEN QUESTION E-0462/04 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Guinea-Bissau — Commission support.
Date: 2004-02-23
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Guinea-Bissau, aid policy, organisation of elections, parliamentary election, political situation

C 84 E/794

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

Expenditure under the INFO 2000 Programme (1996-1999)

(million euros)

Expenditure

Action line 1:
Stimulating demand and raising awareness

Action line 2:
Exploiting Europe’s public sector information

2.1 Developing policies to access and exploit European public sector information

2.2 Linking directories to public sector information

2.3 Making use of content resources in the public sector

Action line 3:
Triggering European multimedia potential

3.1 Catalysing high-quality multimedia content

3.2 Trading multimedia intellectual property rights

Action line 4:
Support actions

4.1 Observing and analysing the multimedia content market

4.2 Spreading the use of multimedia content standards

4.3 Encouraging skills development at European level

Source: INFO 2000 final evaluation.

15,6

13,8

0,9

3,2

9,6

34,2

31,2

3,0

5.0

2,9

0,6

1,5

Total

68,6

(1) Council Decision 96/339/EC of 20 May 1996 adopting a multi-annual Community programme to stimulate the
development of a European multimedia content industry and to encourage the use of multimedia content in the
emerging information society (INFO 2000), OJ L 129, 30.5.1996.

(2) COM(2001) 276 final.

(2004/C 84 E/0891)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0462/04

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Guinea-Bissau (cid:1) Commission support

In reply to my question E-3129/03 (1), the Commission revealed that within the framework of the Cotonou
Agreement, it would be exploring how to exercise a positive influence on developments in Guinea-Bissau.

The press report that the UN Development Programme (UNDP) recently set up an emergency fund to help
Guinea-Bissau re-establish the social services affected by the virtually permanent state of crisis that has
prevailed since 1998.

Part of the USD 18,3 million made available will be used to pay workers in the health and teaching
sectors, which have been rendered inoperable due to lack of funds.

The Netherlands and Portugal are amongst the countries which have already contributed to the UNDP
Fund, so that life in Guinea-Bissau can regain a certain degree of normalcy, and the legislative elections of
March 2004, the first for four years, will not be cancelled.

The Council, for its part, has recently issued a statement on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, which is overall
positive and hopeful.

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/795

What conclusions has the Commission reached as to the best way to exercise more influence over
developments?

What specific measures has it taken or is it going to take in this respect?

Following the census establishing the electoral register, is the Commission providing human and material
support for the holding of legislative elections, so that they will be able to take place on the scheduled
date, 28 March 2004, and thus help provide the democratic solutions that will enable the country to get
out of the prolonged crisis into which it has been plunged? In what ways does the Commission intend to
do this?

(1) See page 731.

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2004)

First, the Commission would like to stress that it certainly shares the assessment of the situation set out in
the Council conclusions to which the Honourable Member refers.

The conclusions arrived at following the consultations relate to the honouring of commitments made by
authorities in Guinea-Bissau, i.e. commitments concerning:

(cid:1) the transition programme and the holding of legislative elections (28 March 2004);

(cid:1) adoption of measures to put public finances in order;

(cid:1) confirmation of moves to restore an independent judiciary and re-establish civilian control over the

armed forces.

The EU will monitor the situation very closely over a period of three months, with regular monthly
reports.

The Commission will monitor and assess in detail, both inside and outside Guinea-Bissau, the authorities’
commitments discussed in the consultations, especially those commitments referred to above. Decisions
will not be taken until this monitoring phase is complete.

Cooperation will continue as usual during this consultation period.

With regard to Community support for legislative elections, the Commission started in July 2003 to
implement a financing agreement allocating EUR 1,2 million from the 9th European Development Fund to
support elections. Funding will go towards equipment, consumables,
logistical administrative support,
awareness-raising measures, training and technical assistance. The project is now underway and is being
implemented in accordance with the funding agreement.

(2004/C 84 E/0892)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0463/04

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(23 February 2004)

Subject: Europe (cid:1) terrorism

Replying to my question E-1992/03 (1), Commissioner António Vitorino said that Europe’s response to
terrorism went beyond merely assessing the existence of a threat, and highlighted the need to take into
consideration the factors underlying terrorism.

He believed that the Commission could play a more prominent role in this highly sensitive area, and that
the Union should use all the means available to it: development, trade, justice and home affairs policy and
other aspects of the Barcelona process to combat terrorism, alongside measures in the security field.