CELEX: 51995PC0295
Language: en
Date: 1995-09-08
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) on aid for population policies and programmes in the developing countries

Avis juridique important

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51995PC0295

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) on aid for population policies and programmes in the developing countries  /* COM/95/295 FINAL - SYN 95/0166 */  

Official Journal C 310 , 22/11/1995 P. 0013

Proposal for a  Council Regulation (EC) on aid for population policies and programmes in the developing countries  (95/C 310/14) COM(95) 295 final - 95/0166(SYN)(Submitted by the Commission on 8 September  1995) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130w  thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, In cooperation with the European Parliament, Whereas high rates of population growth seriously limit the capacity of most developing countries  to achieve social and economic development; whereas these countries have adopted national  birth-spacing programmes; Whereas the Council, in its resolutions of 11 November 1986 and 18 November 1992 respectively  concerning population and development and family-planning and cooperation with the developing  countries, recognized the urgent need to satisfy unmet demand for family-planning services, at the  same time stressing the need to help the developing countries implement broad-based population  programmes encompassing all the different factors determining control over fertility; Whereas the Community has been helping finance specific measures and pilot schemes in pursuit of  these objectives since 1990; whereas it is time for the Community to step up its cooperation in  this particular area, in accordance with the action plan of the Cairo International Conference on  Population and Development; Whereas the Community has undertaken to follow up the Cairo conference, notably by increasing its  financial support for population programmes in the developing countries; Whereas the recipient countries must be helped to introduce balanced population programmes that are  compatible with sustainable development, and to develop strategies for the emancipation of women,  which is a determining factor in birth control, through measures in a variety of social, economic  and cultural sectors, and in particular the key sectors of education and health; Whereas new operations of this kind are conducive to the sustainable economic and social  development of the developing countries and their harmonious and progressive integration into the  world economy; Whereas this programme must be funded by grants from the Community budget; Whereas administrative rules and procedures must be laid down for cooperation in this field, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The Community shall conduct cooperation in support of population  policies in the developing countries. Article 2 1. In operations funded in the course of the cooperation referred to in Article 1,  account shall be taken of the following priority objectives: - enabling women and men to make a free and informed choice about the number and spacing of their  children, - contributing to the creation of a sociocultural, economic and educational environment conducive  to the full exercise of that choice, especially for women, - helping develop or reform health systems in order to improve the accessibility and quality of  reproductive health care, thereby appreciably reducing the risks to the health of women and  children. 2. Community aid may be granted to projects involving activities in the following areas: - support for the establishment and development of family-planning services as part of policies  implemented by governments, international bodies and NGOs, particularly targeting marginal groups  for whom the issue is especially important, - help with the drafting, application or financing of policies in the sectors of the education of  women and health, - the improvement of reproductive health care infrastructure, equipment, supplies or training, - support for information, education and awareness campaigns aimed, in particular, at promoting  understanding of the wider social benefits of speeding up the demographic transition, - the development of grassroots structures, the voluntary sector, local NGOs and South-South  cooperation for the implementation of programmes, the exchange of experience and support for  cooperation networks between partners. Article 3 The recipients of aid and cooperation partners shall include not only states and  regions, but local services, regional organizations, government agencies, traditional or local  communities, private operators and industries, including cooperatives, NGOs and grassroots  associations. Article 4 1. Community assistance in the implementation of the operations referred to in Article  2 shall include studies, technical assistance, training or other services, supplies and works, and  evaluation and monitoring missions and audits. 2. According to the needs of the operations concerned, Community financing may cover both capital  investment, other than the purchase of real estate, and operating costs in foreign or local  currency. However, with the exception of training programmes, operating costs may normally be  covered only during the start-up phase and on a degressive basis. 3. A systematic effort shall be made to obtain a contribution, and in particular a financial  contribution, from the ultimate beneficiaries (countries, local communities, firms or others),  according to their means and the nature of the operation concerned. 4. Opportunities shall be sought for cofinancing, in particular with the Member States or with  multilateral, regional or other organizations. The requisite measures shall be taken to highlight  the Community character of aid granted under this Regulation. 5. The Commission shall take all coordination measures necessary to maximize overall efficiency by  enhancing the consistency and complementarity of operations financed by the Community and the  Member States, and in particular: (a) the setting-up of a standard system for exchanges of information on the operations financed or  considered for financing by the Community and the Member States; (b) on-the-spot coordination of operations through regular meetings and exchanges of information  between the representatives of the Commission and the Member States in the recipient country. Article 5 Financial support under this Regulation shall take the form of grants. Article 6 1. The Commission shall be responsible for appraising, approving and managing  operations covered by this Regulation in accordance with the budgetary and other procedures in  force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general  budget of the European Communities. 2. Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million for individual operations financed under  this Regulation and any changes resulting in an increase of more than 20 % in the sum initially  approved for such an operation shall be adopted under the procedure laid down in Article 7. 3. All financing agreements or contracts concluded under this Regulation shall provide for the  Commission and the Court of Auditors to conduct on-the-spot checks according to the usual  procedures laid down by the Commission under the rules in force, and in particular those of the  Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities. 4. Where operations are the subject of financing agreements between the Community and the recipient  country, such agreements shall stipulate that the payment of taxes, duties or any other charges is  not to be covered by the Community. 5. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms  to natural and legal persons of the Member States and of the recipient country. It may be extended  to other developing countries. 6. Supplies shall originate in the Member States, the recipient country or other developing  countries. In exceptional cases, where circumstances warrant, supplies may originate elsewhere. Article 7 1. The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee made up of representatives  from the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission, namely, depending on the  recipient country or region: - in the case of the ACP countries, the EDF Committee set up by Article 21 of Internal Agreement  91/401/EEC on the financing and administration of Community aid under the fourth Lomé Convention,  adopted on 16 July 1990 by the representatives of the Member States meeting with the Council, - in the case of the Mediterranean countries, the MED Committee set up by Article 6 of Council  Regulation (EEC) No 1762/92 (1) of 29 June 1992, - in the case of the Asian and Latin American countries, the ALA Committee set up by Article 15 of  Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 (2) of 25 February 1992. 2. The Commission representative shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken.  The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay  down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition each Member State shall have the right to  ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. The Commission shall take the utmost account of opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform  the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. 3. The committee shall meet once a year, during a joint meeting of the three committees mentioned  in the first paragraph, to discuss general guidelines presented by the Commission representative  for operations in the year ahead. Article 8 At the end of each budget year, the Commission shall present a report to Parliament and  the Council summarizing the operations financed in the course of that year and evaluating the  implementation of this Regulation over that period. The summary shall in particular contain information about those with whom contracts have been  concluded. The report shall also summarize any independent evaluations conducted of specific operations. Article 9 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in  the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applcable in all  Member States. (1) OJ No L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 1.  (2) OJ No L 32, 27. 2. 1992, p. 1.   Proposal for a  Council Regulation (EC) on aid for population policies and programmes in the developing countries  (95/C 310/14) COM(95) 295 final - 95/0166(SYN)(Submitted by the Commission on 8 September  1995) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 130w  thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, In cooperation with the European Parliament, Whereas high rates of population growth seriously limit the capacity of most developing countries  to achieve social and economic development; whereas these countries have adopted national  birth-spacing programmes; Whereas the Council, in its resolutions of 11 November 1986 and 18 November 1992 respectively  concerning population and development and family-planning and cooperation with the developing  countries, recognized the urgent need to satisfy unmet demand for family-planning services, at the  same time stressing the need to help the developing countries implement broad-based population  programmes encompassing all the different factors determining control over fertility; Whereas the Community has been helping finance specific measures and pilot schemes in pursuit of  these objectives since 1990; whereas it is time for the Community to step up its cooperation in  this particular area, in accordance with the action plan of the Cairo International Conference on  Population and Development; Whereas the Community has undertaken to follow up the Cairo conference, notably by increasing its  financial support for population programmes in the developing countries; Whereas the recipient countries must be helped to introduce balanced population programmes that are  compatible with sustainable development, and to develop strategies for the emancipation of women,  which is a determining factor in birth control, through measures in a variety of social, economic  and cultural sectors, and in particular the key sectors of education and health; Whereas new operations of this kind are conducive to the sustainable economic and social  development of the developing countries and their harmonious and progressive integration into the  world economy; Whereas this programme must be funded by grants from the Community budget; Whereas administrative rules and procedures must be laid down for cooperation in this field, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 1 The Community shall conduct cooperation in support of population  policies in the developing countries. Article 2 1. In operations funded in the course of the cooperation referred to in Article 1,  account shall be taken of the following priority objectives: - enabling women and men to make a free and informed choice about the number and spacing of their  children, - contributing to the creation of a sociocultural, economic and educational environment conducive  to the full exercise of that choice, especially for women, - helping develop or reform health systems in order to improve the accessibility and quality of  reproductive health care, thereby appreciably reducing the risks to the health of women and  children. 2. Community aid may be granted to projects involving activities in the following areas: - support for the establishment and development of family-planning services as part of policies  implemented by governments, international bodies and NGOs, particularly targeting marginal groups  for whom the issue is especially important, - help with the drafting, application or financing of policies in the sectors of the education of  women and health, - the improvement of reproductive health care infrastructure, equipment, supplies or training, - support for information, education and awareness campaigns aimed, in particular, at promoting  understanding of the wider social benefits of speeding up the demographic transition, - the development of grassroots structures, the voluntary sector, local NGOs and South-South  cooperation for the implementation of programmes, the exchange of experience and support for  cooperation networks between partners. Article 3 The recipients of aid and cooperation partners shall include not only states and  regions, but local services, regional organizations, government agencies, traditional or local  communities, private operators and industries, including cooperatives, NGOs and grassroots  associations. Article 4 1. Community assistance in the implementation of the operations referred to in Article  2 shall include studies, technical assistance, training or other services, supplies and works, and  evaluation and monitoring missions and audits. 2. According to the needs of the operations concerned, Community financing may cover both capital  investment, other than the purchase of real estate, and operating costs in foreign or local  currency. However, with the exception of training programmes, operating costs may normally be  covered only during the start-up phase and on a degressive basis. 3. A systematic effort shall be made to obtain a contribution, and in particular a financial  contribution, from the ultimate beneficiaries (countries, local communities, firms or others),  according to their means and the nature of the operation concerned. 4. Opportunities shall be sought for cofinancing, in particular with the Member States or with  multilateral, regional or other organizations. The requisite measures shall be taken to highlight  the Community character of aid granted under this Regulation. 5. The Commission shall take all coordination measures necessary to maximize overall efficiency by  enhancing the consistency and complementarity of operations financed by the Community and the  Member States, and in particular: (a) the setting-up of a standard system for exchanges of information on the operations financed or  considered for financing by the Community and the Member States; (b) on-the-spot coordination of operations through regular meetings and exchanges of information  between the representatives of the Commission and the Member States in the recipient country. Article 5 Financial support under this Regulation shall take the form of grants. Article 6 1. The Commission shall be responsible for appraising, approving and managing  operations covered by this Regulation in accordance with the budgetary and other procedures in  force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general  budget of the European Communities. 2. Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million for individual operations financed under  this Regulation and any changes resulting in an increase of more than 20 % in the sum initially  approved for such an operation shall be adopted under the procedure laid down in Article 7. 3. All financing agreements or contracts concluded under this Regulation shall provide for the  Commission and the Court of Auditors to conduct on-the-spot checks according to the usual  procedures laid down by the Commission under the rules in force, and in particular those of the  Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities. 4. Where operations are the subject of financing agreements between the Community and the recipient  country, such agreements shall stipulate that the payment of taxes, duties or any other charges is  not to be covered by the Community. 5. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms  to natural and legal persons of the Member States and of the recipient country. It may be extended  to other developing countries. 6. Supplies shall originate in the Member States, the recipient country or other developing  countries. In exceptional cases, where circumstances warrant, supplies may originate elsewhere. Article 7 1. The Commission shall be assisted by an advisory committee made up of representatives  from the Member States and chaired by a representative of the Commission, namely, depending on the  recipient country or region: - in the case of the ACP countries, the EDF Committee set up by Article 21 of Internal Agreement  91/401/EEC on the financing and administration of Community aid under the fourth Lomé Convention,  adopted on 16 July 1990 by the representatives of the Member States meeting with the Council, - in the case of the Mediterranean countries, the MED Committee set up by Article 6 of Council  Regulation (EEC) No 1762/92 (1) of 29 June 1992, - in the case of the Asian and Latin American countries, the ALA Committee set up by Article 15 of  Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 (2) of 25 February 1992. 2. The Commission representative shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be taken.  The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman may lay  down according to the urgency of the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. The opinion shall be recorded in the minutes; in addition each Member State shall have the right to  ask to have its position recorded in the minutes. The Commission shall take the utmost account of opinion delivered by the committee. It shall inform  the committee of the manner in which its opinion has been taken into account. 3. The committee shall meet once a year, during a joint meeting of the three committees mentioned  in the first paragraph, to discuss general guidelines presented by the Commission representative  for operations in the year ahead. Article 8 At the end of each budget year, the Commission shall present a report to Parliament and  the Council summarizing the operations financed in the course of that year and evaluating the  implementation of this Regulation over that period. The summary shall in particular contain information about those with whom contracts have been  concluded. The report shall also summarize any independent evaluations conducted of specific operations. Article 9 This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following its publication in  the Official Journal of the European Communities. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applcable in all  Member States. (1) OJ No L 181, 1. 7. 1992, p. 1.  (2) OJ No L 32, 27. 2. 1992, p. 1.