CELEX: 51972PC1757
Language: en
Date: 1972-12-29 00:00:00
Title: RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION concluding an agreement, constituted by an exchange of letters, between the European Economic Community and the International Committee of the Red Cross for the supply of 200 tons of skimmed milk powder for the victims of the earthquake in Nicaragua (submitted by the Commission to the Council)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (72) 1757
Vol. 1972/0240
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION           OP    THE    EUROPEAN          COMMUNITIES
                                         COM(72)1757 fin.
                                         Brussels . 29 December 1972
                 RECOMMENDATION FOR A COUNCIL DECISION
          concluding an agreement , constituted by an exchange
          of letters , between the European Economic Community
          and the International Committee of the Red Cross
          for the supply of 200 tons of skimmed milk powder
          for the victims of the earthquake in Nicaragua
            ( submitted by the Commission to the Council )
C0M(72)1757 fin
 ---pagebreak---                                                  VII]/l3( 73) B-4-E
                   EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
On 26 December 1972 the Mission of the Republic of Nicaragua
wrote on instructions from its Government appealing to the
European Communities to send all possible food aid to
Nicaragua following the earthquake there on 23 December .
The information to hand fully bears out the disastrous nature
of the earthquake , which has claimed tens of thousands of lives
and left great numbers of people homeless , Managua , the capital
was 80$ destroyed outright and the rest of the city so badly
damaged that the Government has decided to raze it completely
and rebuild in a safer locality . To form a proper idea of the
position it should be recalled that Managua had a population of
    000 , out of a population of 2 075 000 for the country as a
whole . Furthermore , Nicaragua had already in the same year
suffered an exceptional drought which seriously harmed its crops
and led to food shortages .
This being so , it is clear that the Community not only ought to
send a special consignment of food aid to Nicaragua , but ought
to do so in such a way as to enable the aid to be put to use as
promptly as possible . Given the legal provisions in force and
the position as to stocks of grain and dairy products in the
Community , it is felt that an appropriate course would be to fly
200 tons of skimmed milk powder to Managua at Community expense ,
for distribution by the International Committee of the Red Cross
 ---pagebreak---                              -2-                 VII^L3( 73) B-^-E
This tonnage would be set against the 6 000 tons of skimmed milk
powder already furnished to the ICRC under Council Regulation ( EEC )
No 2721/72 .
This particular aid would be given without prejudice to such
other action as the Commission may propose to the Council in the
light of further developments in the food situation in Nicaragua .
 ---pagebreak---                                    Vliyi3( 73) B-4-E
                                    ANNEX
ESTIMATSD COST OF SHIPMENT BY AIR
Frankfurt-Managua
Lufthansa charter aircraft CL
25 000 kg volume US# 35 500
Total cost : US ¿ 35 500 x 8 * US#    000
 ---pagebreak---                                                       Vliyi3( 73) B-^-E
                                  ■'  4 - ' ■■
             Draft Recommendation for a Council Decision
        concluding an Agreement , constituted by an exchange
        of letters , between the European Economic Community
        and the International Committee of the Red Cross for
        the supply of 200 tons of skimmed milk powder for the
        victims of the earthquake in Nicaragua
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic
Community , and in particular Articles 113 » ll^ and 228 thereof ;
Having regard to the recommendation from the . Commission ;
Whereas the Community has been asked by the Government of the
Republic of Nicaragua in a letter of 26 December 1972 to send food
aid for the victims of the recent earthquake in that country ;
Whereas the Council has by the terms of Regulation (EEC) No 2721/72^"^
furnished to the International Committee of the Red Cross 6 000 tons
of skimmed milk powder ;
                                                         • • •/ • # «
^OJ No L 291, 28 December 1972.
 ---pagebreak---                                   -2-                VIIl/13( 73 ) B-if-E
Whereas it is an appropriate course , in response to the Nicaraguan
appeal , to have the International Committee of the Red Cross
distribute to victims 200 tons of skimmed milk powder from the
aforesaid ;
Whereas in view of the pressing' nature of the need it is necessary
that the Community arrange for the tonnage in question to be flown
out and delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross
free Managua airport :
HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS :
                               Article 1
On behalf of the European Economic Community an agreement , constituted
by an exchange of letters as set out in the Annex to this Decision ,
shall be concluded between the European Economic Community and the
International Committee of the Red Cross for the supply of 200 tons
of skimmed milk powder as food aid for the victims of the earthquake
in Nicaragua .
                               Article 2
The President of the Council is hereby authorized to appoint the
persons empowered to sign the agreement and to invest them with the
requisite powers to bind the Community .
Done at Brussels , ........
                                       By the Council
                                       The Président
 ---pagebreak---                                                            VIIlA3(73)B-^-
ANNEX
                                           Brussels ,
The President of the International
Committee of the Red Cross .
7 avenue de la Paix ,
GENEVA »
Sir ,
      I have the honour to inform you that the European Economic
Community proposes to provide through the International Committee
of the Red Cross food aid consisting of 200 tons of skimmed milk
powder for the victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake ,
 "    The intention : is that /this , should be done as follows :
1.    The 200 tons of skimmed milk powder is to be set against the
      6 000 tons of this product furnished to the Committee under
      Regulation ( EEC ) No 2721/72 .
2.    The European Economic Community will deliver the consignment
      to the Committee free Managua airport .
3.    The European Economic Community will notify the Committee at
      least 48 hours in advance of the consignment 's arrival at
      Managua airport .
k.    The Committee will make all necessary arrangements to take
      delivery of the consignment on arrival and distribute the
      contents free of charge to earthquake victims .
 ---pagebreak---                                    -2-                VIIIA3( 73 ) B-^-E
5•   Any costs incurred in consequence of delay in taking delivery
     on the part of the Committee , and all costs incurred subsequent
     to the taking of delivery , will be borne by the Committee .
6.   The Committee will keep the Commission of the European
     Communities informed of the progress of the operation , and upon
     its completion will submit a final report to the Commission .
7»   The practical implementation of some or all of the above may
     be delegated by the Committee to the League of Red Cross
     Societies .                         ...
     I shall be glad if you will let me know whether these arrangements
meet with your acceptance .
     Please accept , Sir , the assurance of my highest consideration .
 ---pagebreak---                                                        VIIL0.3(73)B- if-E
                                         Geneva ,
Sir ,       •   • •     '■ ,
      I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of
which reads as follows :
              "I have the honour to inform you that the European
      Economic Community proposes to provide through the International
      Committee of the Red Cross food aid consisting of 200 tons of
      skimmed milk powder for the victims of the Nicaraguan earthquake
              The intention is that this should be done as follows :
      1.      The 200 tons of skimmed milk powder is to be set against
              the 6 000 tons of this product furnished to the
              Committee under Regulation ( EEC ) No 2721/72 .
      2.      The European Economic Community will deliver the
              consignment to the Committee free Managua airport .
      3.      The European Economic Community will notify the
              Committee at least ^8 hours in advance of the consign­
              ment 's arrival at Managua airport .
      k.      The Committee will make all necessary arrangements to
              take delivery of the consignment on arrival and
              distribute the contents free of charge to earthquake
              victims .
      3*      Any costs incurred in consequence of delay in taking
              delivery on the part of the Committee , and all costs
              incurred subsequent to the taking of delivery , will be
              borne by the Committee .
 ---pagebreak---                                   -2-                 VIIIA3 ( 73 ) B- Jf- E
    6.       The Committee will keep the Commission of the European
             Communities informed of the progress of the operation ,
             and upon its completion will submit a final report to
             the Commission .
    7.       The practical implementation of some or all of the above
             may be delegated by the Committee to the League of
             Red Cross Societies
          " 'I 'shall be glad if you will let me know whether these
    arrangements meet with your acceptance ."
    In reply I have pleasure in Informing you that the International
Committee of the Red Cross accepts the terms so stated .
    Please accept , Sir , the assurance of my highest consideration .