WRITTEN QUESTION E-0511/04 by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Provision of aid to South Africa.
Date: 2004-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: South Africa, cooperation policy, fight against crime, police cooperation, project evaluation, public safety

C 84 E/804

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

3.4.2004

The question of clearing responsibilities on the management of such dumped waste is not covered by the
Euratom legislation. However, in its role as a Guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will follow-up this
issue, and if necessary, will request the necessary information from the Member States concerned in order
to decide whether further Community action is required.

(1) Council Directive 96/29/Euratom of 13 May 1996, laying down basic safety standards for the protection of the
health of workers and the general public against the dangers arising from ionising radiation, OJ L 159, 29.6.1996,
Articles 35 and 36 Euratom.

(2004/C 84 E/0899)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0511/04

by Sérgio Marques (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject: Provision of aid to South Africa

South Africa has been going through a period marked by extremely serious problems to which the EU and
the international community cannot remain (and, indeed, have not remained) indifferent. Those problems
levels, economic stagnation and an
include a high rate of Aids infection, alarming unemployment
extremely worrying level of violent crime.

The alarming level of crime continues to have a tragic impact not only on the South African people
themselves but also on the communities of European immigrants who are settled in South Africa.

Under the EU cooperation umbrella, projects have been implemented for the specific purpose of
promoting and improving security levels in South Africa (project to organise and provide institutional
support for the South African police service: EUR 18,5 million; project to assist the overhaul of the legal
system: EUR 25 million; project to assist the policing of Eastern Cape Province: EUR 10,8 million).

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

1. What stage has been reached in the implementation (both practical and financial) of the projects
designed to promote and improve security levels in South Africa, and what effect have those projects
had so far on improving security in the country?

2.

Is the Commission planning to strengthen the above projects and extend them to other parts of South
Africa?

3. Are further projects relating to improved security in South Africa to be devised and launched in areas

such as policing, crime prevention and cooperation with the criminal-justice sector?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2004)

The Commission recognises the threat that high levels of criminality, together with other socio-economic
challenges like unemployment, HIV/AIDS and poverty pose to the sustainability of democracy in South
Africa. Not only does it threaten the political advances already achieved during the past 10 years, but it
also directly impacts on the quality of the lives of ordinary South Africans and others resident there.

The Commission is of the opinion that the South African Government has a sound policy framework in
place to deal with crime. This is borne out not only by robust policy development in this field over the
past eight years, but also by increased spending for the Criminal Justice Departments during the same
period.

1.
Regarding the intended impact on the levels of safety and security by the development programmes
referred to, the main objective is the improvement of service delivery by the South African Police Service
(SAPS) and other relevant Criminal Justice Departments to the vulnerable communities in South Africa.

3.4.2004

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Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/805

In addition, the programmes emphasise issues related to improved access to the Justice system, crime
prevention as well as the development and implementation of policies related to the fight against crime
more broadly and building capacity in these departments. For example, access to the Courts has been
improved by piloting an electronic maintenance grant payout system in the Department of Justice, while
police service delivery has been improved by training hundreds of police officers to drive vehicles as well
as the upgrading of Victim Friendly facilities at several Police Stations.

One of the programmes also supports improvement of the investigative capacity of the SAPS by assisting
with the development of an automated DNA Criminal Database that will extend SAPS’s current ability to
use DNA profiling to link suspected criminals to crimes committed. This will also be of benefit in relation
to Sexual Offences like Rape and Child Abuse.

Projects:

Physical Implementation (1)

Financial Disbursements (1)

APEC (96/08)

Closure phase

SAPS/DSS (99/024)

40 % implemented

e-Justice (00/28)

60 % implemented

(1)

These figures are estimated.

> 90 %

25 %

100 %

2.
Both the e-Justice (00/28) and SAPS (99/24) programmes are piloted across all nine provinces of the
country already. Despite the fact that the relevant departments have, with their own funds, extended
aspects of these programmes to other geographical areas, the Commission remains ready to assist both the
SA Police Service and the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development with extending these
programmes where possible and feasible to other parts of the country.

The Commission and its Member States, in September 2003, agreed to the funding (with DFID (1)) of
3.
a programme that will focus on support to the policing of crimes against women and children in the
Eastern Cape Province, worth EUR 25 million in total. The overall objective of this programme is
improved safety and security for the people of the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. This theme is
developed into the specific programme purpose of prevention of crimes against women and children and
improving the services delivered to people affected by such crimes in project priority areas. While the
Financing Agreement has been signed by the Commission, a signature is expected by the South African
Government in early March 2004, with project implementation commencing soon afterwards.

As previously explained and in line with Parliamentary recommendations, the Commission confirms its
intention to continue co-operation with the Criminal Justice sector as foreseen in the Country Strategy
Paper 2003/05, emphasising service delivery improvement, crime prevention in relation to vulnerable
groups, community involvement and increased accountability of the Criminal Justice sector (2).

(1) DFID (cid:1) Department for International Development (cid:1) United Kingdom Government.
(2) Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

(2004/C 84 E/0900)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-0525/04

by Ian Hudghton (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(17 February 2004)

Subject: Potato ring rot

The Commission will be aware that the recent outbreak of potato ring rot in Wales gave serious concerns
to potato growers in other parts of the United Kingdom, including my own constituency, Scotland. The
Commission may also be aware that the National Union of Farmers in Scotland, together with colleagues
in Ireland, are keen to take action to prevent the spread of this disease to their own crops by establishing