CELEX: 32005R2112
Language: en
Date: 2005-11-21 00:00:00
Title: Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of  21 November 2005  on access to Community external assistance

27.12.2005   
            
            
               EN
            
            
               Official Journal of the European Union
            
            
               L 344/23
            
         
      COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 2112/2005
   of 21 November 2005
   on access to Community external assistance
   THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
   Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 181a thereof,
   Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
   Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament,
   Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),
   Whereas:
   
               (1)
            
            
               The practice of tying the granting of aid, directly or indirectly, to the purchase of goods and services procured by means of that aid in the donor country reduces its effectiveness and is not coherent with a pro-poor development policy. The untying of aid is not an aim in itself, but should be used as a tool to cross-fertilise other elements in the fight against poverty, such as ownership, regional integration and capacity building, with a focus on empowering local and regional suppliers of goods and services in developing countries.
            
         
               (2)
            
            
               In March 2001, the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) adopted a ‘Recommendation on Untying Official Development Assistance to the Least Developed Countries’ (2). The Member States adopted that recommendation and the Commission recognised the spirit of this recommendation as guidance for Community aid.
            
         
               (3)
            
            
               On 14 March 2002, the General Affairs Council held in parallel with the European Council in Barcelona in preparation for the International Conference on Financing for Development, convened in Monterrey on 18 to 22 March 2002, concluded that the European Union would ‘implement the DAC recommendation on untying of aid to least developed countries and continue discussions in view of further untying bilateral aid. The EU will also consider steps towards further untying of Community aid while maintaining the existing system of price preferences of the EU-ACP framework’.
            
         
               (4)
            
            
               On 18 November 2002, the Commission adopted a communication to the Council and to the European Parliament entitled ‘Untying: Enhancing the effectiveness of aid’. It presented the Commission’s views on the issue and possible options for the implementation of the abovementioned Barcelona commitment within the EU aid assistance system.
            
         
               (5)
            
            
               In its Conclusions on the Untying of Aid of 20 May 2003 the Council underlined the need to further untie Community aid. It agreed to the modalities detailed on the abovementioned Communication and decided on the options proposed.
            
         
               (6)
            
            
               On 4 September 2003, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the abovementioned Commission communication (3), in which it noted the need to further untie Community aid. It supported the modalities detailed in that Communication and agreed to the options proposed. It highlighted the need for further debate geared towards more untying on the basis of further studies and documented proposals, and called explicitly for ‘a clear preference for local and regional cooperation, prioritising – in ranking order – suppliers from the recipient country, neighbouring developing countries, and other developing countries’, in order to strengthen the efforts of the recipient countries to improve their own production at national, regional, local and family level, as well as actions aimed at improving the availability and accessibility to the public of foodstuffs and basic services, consistent with local habits and production and trading systems.
            
         
               (7)
            
            
               Several elements need to be addressed in order to define access to Community external assistance. The rules of eligibility governing access by persons are laid down in Article 3. The rules governing the engagement of experts and the origin of supplies and materials purchased by eligible persons are laid down in Articles 4 and 5 respectively. The definition and modalities of implementation of reciprocity are set out in Article 6. Derogations and their implementation are provided for in Article 7. Specific provisions concerning operations financed through an international organisation or a regional organisation, or co-financed with a third country, are laid down in Article 8. Specific provisions concerning humanitarian aid are laid down in Article 9.
            
         
               (8)
            
            
               Access to Community external assistance is defined in the basic acts regulating such assistance, in conjunction with Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1605/2002 of 25 June 2002 on the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities (4) (hereinafter the Financial Regulation). The changes made by this Regulation to access to Community aid entail amendments to all those instruments. All the modifications to the basic acts concerned are listed in Annex I to this Regulation.
            
         
               (9)
            
            
               When awarding tenders under a Community instrument, special consideration will be given to respect for internationally agreed core labour standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), e.g. the conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining, elimination of forced and compulsory labour, elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, and the abolition of child labour.
            
         
               (10)
            
            
               When awarding tenders under a Community instrument, special consideration will be given to respect for the following internationally agreed environmental conventions: the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of 2000 and the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1997,
            
         HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
   Article 1
   Scope
   This Regulation lays down the rules for access by interested parties to Community external assistance instruments financed by the general budget of the European Union, as listed in Annex I.
   Article 2
   Definitions
   For the interpretation of the terms used in this Regulation, reference is made to the Financial Regulation and to 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 (5).
   Article 3
   Rules of eligibility
   1.   Participation in the award of procurement or grant contracts financed under a Community instrument shall be open to all legal persons who are established in a Member State of the European Community, in an official candidate country as recognised by the European Community or in a Member State of the European Economic Area.
   2.   Participation in the award of procurement or grant contracts financed under a Community instrument with thematic scope, as defined in Annex I, Part A, shall be open to all legal persons who are established in a developing country, as specified in the OECD Development Assistance Committee list set out in Annex II, in addition to those legal persons already eligible by virtue of the instrument concerned.
   3.   Participation in the award of procurement or grant contracts financed under a Community instrument with geographical scope, as defined in Annex I, Part B, shall be open to all legal persons who are established in a developing country as specified in the OECD Development Assistance Committee list set out in Annex II and who are expressly mentioned as eligible, and to those already stated to be eligible by the instrument concerned.
   4.   Participation in the award of procurement or grant contracts financed under a Community instrument shall be open to all legal persons who are established in any country other than those referred in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, where reciprocal access to their external assistance has been established pursuant to Article 6.
   5.   Participation in the award of procurement or grant contracts financed under a Community instrument shall be open to international organisations.
   6.   The above is without prejudice to the participation of categories of organisations eligible for the award of any contract, or to the exception set out in Article 114(1) of the Financial Regulation.
   Article 4
   Experts
   All experts engaged by tenderers as defined in Articles 3 and 8 may be of any nationality. This Article is without prejudice to the qualitative and financial requirements set out in the Community’s procurement rules.
   Article 5
   Rules of origin
   All supplies and materials purchased under a contract financed under a Community instrument must originate from the Community or from an eligible country as defined in Articles 3 and 7 herein. The term ‘origin’ for the purpose of this Regulation is defined in the relevant Community legislation on rules of origin for customs purposes.
   Article 6
   Reciprocity with third countries
   1.   Reciprocal access to the Community’s external assistance shall be granted for a country falling within the scope of Article 3(4), whenever such country grants eligibility on equal terms to the Member States and to the recipient country concerned.
   2.   The granting of reciprocal access to the Community’s external assistance shall be based on a comparison between the EU and other donors and shall proceed at sectoral level, as defined by the OECD Development Assistance Committee categories, or at country level, regardless of whether the country concerned is a donor or a recipient country. The decision to grant such reciprocity to a donor country shall be based on the transparency, consistency and proportionality of the aid provided by that donor, including its qualitative and quantitative nature.
   3.   Reciprocal access to the Community’s external assistance shall be established by means of a specific decision concerning a given country or a given regional group of countries. Such a decision shall be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (6) under the procedures and relevant committee associated with the act concerned. The right of the European Parliament to be regularly informed pursuant to Article 7(3) of that Decision shall be fully respected. Such a decision shall run for a minimum period of one year.
   4.   Reciprocal access to the Community’s external assistance in the least developed countries as listed in Annex II shall be automatically granted to the third countries listed in Annex III.
   5.   The recipient countries shall be consulted as part of the procedure described in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3.
   Article 7
   Derogations from the rules of eligibility and origin
   1.   In duly substantiated exceptional cases, the Commission may extend eligibility to legal persons from a country not eligible under Article 3.
   2.   In duly substantiated exceptional cases, the Commission may allow the purchase of supplies and materials originating from a country not eligible under Article 3.
   3.   Derogations as provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 may be justified on the basis of the unavailability of products and services in the markets of the countries concerned, for reasons of extreme urgency, or if the eligibility rules would make the realisation of a project, a programme or an action impossible or exceedingly difficult.
   Article 8
   Operations involving international organisations or co-financing
   1.   Whenever Community funding covers an operation implemented through an international organisation, participation in the appropriate contractual procedures shall be open to all legal persons who are eligible pursuant to Article 3 as well as to all legal persons who are eligible pursuant to the rules of that organisation, care being taken to ensure that equal treatment is afforded to all donors. The same rules shall apply in respect of supplies, materials and experts.
   2.   Whenever Community funding covers an operation co-financed with a third country, subject to reciprocity as defined in Article 6, or with a regional organisation, or with a Member State, participation in the appropriate contractual procedures shall be open to all legal persons who are eligible pursuant to Article 3 as well as to all legal persons who are eligible under the rules of such third country, regional organisation or Member State. The same rules shall apply in respect of supplies, materials and experts.
   3.   As far as food aid operations are concerned, the application of this Article shall be limited to emergency operations.
   Article 9
   Humanitarian aid and NGOs
   1.   For the purposes of humanitarian aid, within the meaning of Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/96 of 20 June 1996 concerning humanitarian aid (7) and for the purposes of aid channeled directly through NGOs, within the meaning of Council Regulation (EC) No 1658/98 of 17 July 1998 on co-financing operations with European non-governmental development organisations (NGOs) in fields of interest to the developing countries (8), the provisions of Article 3 shall not apply to the eligibility criteria established for the selection of grant beneficiaries.
   2.   Beneficiaries of these grants shall abide by the rules established in this Regulation where the implementation of the assisted humanitarian action and aid channeled directly through NGOs within the meaning of Regulation (EC) no 1658/98 requires the award of procurement contracts.
   Article 10
   Respect for core principles and strengthening local markets
   1.   In order to accelerate the eradication of poverty through the promotion of local capacities, markets and purchases, special consideration shall be given to local and regional procurement in partner countries.
   2.   Tenderers who have been awarded contracts shall respect internationally agreed core labour standards, e.g. the ILO core labour standards, conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining, elimination of forced and compulsory labour, elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, and the abolition of child labour.
   3.   Access by developing countries to Community external assistance shall be rendered possible by all such technical assistance as is deemed appropriate.
   Article 11
   Implementation of the Regulation
   This Regulation amends and regulates the relevant parts of all existing Community instruments listed in Annex I. The Commission shall amend Annexes II to IV to this Regulation from time to time to take account of any amendments to OECD texts.
   Article 12
   Entry into force
   This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
   
      This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
      Done at Brussels, 21 November 2005.
      
         
            For the Council
         
         
            The President
         
         J. STRAW
         
      
   
   
      (1)  OJ C 157, 28.6.2005, p. 99.
   
      (2)  OECD/DAC 2001 Report, 2002, Volume 3, No 1, p. 46.
   
      (3)  OJ C 76 E, 25.3.2004, p. 474.
   
      (4)  OJ L 248, 16.9.2002, p. 1.
   
      (5)  OJ L 357, 31.12.2002, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1261/2005 (OJ L 201, 2.8.2005, p. 3).
   
      (6)  OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
   
      (7)  OJ L 163, 2.7.1996, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 284, 31.10.2003, p. 1).
   
      (8)  OJ L 213, 30.7.1998, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003.
   
      ANNEX I
      The following amendments are made to the Community instruments listed hereafter.
      PART A — Community instruments with a thematic scope
      
                  1.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EC) No 1725/2001 of 23 July 2001 concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in third countries other than developing countries (1):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              Article 4(2) is replaced by the following:
                              
                                 ‘2.   Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (2):
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 7(3) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Participation in contractual procedures implemented through an international organisation or co-financed with a third country is defined in the Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
            
                  2.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EC) No 976/1999 of 29 April 1999 laying down the requirements for the implementation of Community operations, other than those of development cooperation, which, within the framework of Community cooperation policy, contribute to the general objective of developing and consolidating democracy and the rule of law and to that of respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms in third countries (3):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 5(1) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Eligibility for grant contracts shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 0f 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (4).
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              Article 6 is replaced by the following:
                              
                                 ‘Article 6
                                 To be eligible for Community aid, the partners referred to in Article 5(1) must have their main headquarters in a country eligible for Community aid under this Regulation, as well as under Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005. Such headquarters must be the effective decision-making centre for all operations financed under this Regulation. Exceptionally, the headquarters may be in another third country.’
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              Article 9 is replaced by the following:
                              
                                 ‘Article 9
                                 1.   Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, laid down in this Regulation, as well as those set out in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.
                                 2.   The origin of supplies and materials purchased under this Regulation shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of origin, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
            PART B — Community instruments with a geographical scope
      
                  3.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EC) No 2500/2001 of 17 December 2001 concerning pre-accession financial assistance for Turkey (5):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 8(7) the following sentence is added to the first subparagraph:
                              
                                 ‘Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (6).
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 8(7) the following sentence is added to the second subparagraph:
                              
                                 ‘Participation in contractual procedures implemented through an international organisation or co-financed with a third country is further defined in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 8 the following paragraph is added:
                              
                                 ‘8.   The origin of supplies and materials purchased under this Regulation shall be further defined in accordance with the rules of origin, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
            
                  4.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EC) No 2666/2000 of 5 December 2000 on assistance for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (7):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 7(3) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (8).
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              Article 7(4) is replaced by the following:
                              
                                 ‘4.   Participation in contractual procedures implemented through an international organisation or co-financed with a third country is defined in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005’
                              
                           
                        
            
                  5.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 99/2000 of 29 December 1999 concerning the provision of assistance to the partner States in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (9):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 11(3) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘The origin of supplies and materials purchased under this Regulation shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of origin, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of. 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (10).
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 11(4) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 11(5) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Participation in contractual procedures implemented through an international organisation or co-financed with a third country is further defined in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
            
                  6.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EC) No 1267/1999 of 21 June 1999 establishing an Instrument for Structural Policies for Pre-Accession (11):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 6a(1) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (12).
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 6a(2) the following subparagraph is added:
                              
                                 ‘Participation in contractual procedures implemented through an international organisation or co-financed with a third country is further defined in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
            
                  7.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EC) No 1268/1999 of 21 June 1999 on Community support for pre-accession measures for agriculture and rural development in the applicant countries of central and eastern Europe in the pre-accession period (13):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 3(3) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility and the derogations therefrom laid down herein, as well as in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (14).
                              
                           
                        
            
                  8.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EC) No 1488/96 of 23 July 1996 on financial and technical measures to accompany (MEDA) the reform of economic and social structures in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (15):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 8(1) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility and the derogations therefrom laid down herein, as well as in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (16).
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 8(8) the following sentence is added:
                              
                                 ‘Participation in contractual procedures implemented through an international organisation or co-financed with a third country is defined in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
            
                  9.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EEC) No 1762/92 of 29 June 1992 on the implementation of the Protocols on financial and technical cooperation concluded by the Community with Mediterranean non-member countries (17):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 2(1) the following subparagraph is added:
                              
                                 ‘Participation in contractual procedures implemented through an international organisation or co-financed with a third country is further defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (18).
                              
                           
                        
            
                  10.
               
               
                  Council Regulation (EEC) No 443/92 of 25 February 1992 on financial and technical assistance to, and economic cooperation with, the developing countries in Asia and Latin America (19):
                  
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 9 the following subparagraph is added:
                              
                                 ‘Participation in contractual procedures implemented through an international organisation or co-financed with a third country is further defined in Council Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005 of 21 November 2005 on access to Community external assistance (20).
                              
                           
                        
                              —
                           
                           
                              in Article 13 the following subparagraph is added:
                              
                                 ‘Eligibility for participation in tendering procedures under this Regulation shall be further determined in accordance with the rules of eligibility, and the derogations therefrom, set out in Regulation (EC) No 2112/2005.’
                              
                           
                        
            
         (1)  OJ L 234, 1.9.2001, p. 6.
      
         (2)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (3)  OJ L 120, 8.5.1999, p. 8. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2242/2004 (OJ L 390, 31.12.2004, p. 21).
      
         (4)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (5)  OJ L 342, 27.12.2001, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 850/2005 (OJ L 141, 4.6.2005, p. 1).
      
         (6)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (7)  OJ L 306, 7.12.2000, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2257/2004 (OJ L 389, 30.12.2004, p. 1).
      
         (8)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (9)  OJ L 12, 18.1.2000, p. 1.
      
         (10)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (11)  OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 73. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2257/2004.
      
         (12)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (13)  OJ L 161, 26.6.1999, p. 87. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2257/2004.
      
         (14)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (15)  OJ L 189, 30.7.1996, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 2698/2000 (OJ L 311, 12.12.2000, p. 1).
      
         (16)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (17)  OJ L 181, 1.7.1992, p. 1.
      
         (18)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
      
         (19)  OJ L 52, 27.2.1992, p. 1. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 807/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 36).
      
         (20)  OJ L 344, 27.12.2005, p. 23.’
   
   
      ANNEX II
      Development Assistance Committee list of aid recipients — as at1 January 2003
      
                  Part I: Developing Countries and Territories
                  (Official Development Assistance)
               
               
                  Part II: Countries and Territories in Transition
                  (Official Aid)
               
            
                  Least Developed Countries (LDCs)
               
               
                  Other Low-Income Countries (Other LICs) (per capita GNI <$745 in 2001
               
               
                  Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) (per capita GNI $746-$2975 in 2001)
               
               
                  Upper middle-Income Countries (UMICs) (per capita GNI $2976-$9205 in 2001)
               
               
                  High-Income Countries (HICs) (per capita GNI >$9206 in 2001)
               
               
                  Central and Eastern European Countries and New Independent States of the former Soviet Union (CEECs/NIS)
               
               
                  More Advanced Developing Countries and Territories
               
            
                  Afghanistan
                  Angola
                  Bangladesh
                  Benin
                  Bhutan
                  Burkina Faso
                  Burundi
                  Cambodia
                  Cape Verde
                  Central African Republic
                  Chad
                  Comoros
                  Congo, Dem. Rep.
                  Djibouti
                  Equatorial Guinea
                  Eritrea
                  Ethiopia
                  Gambia
                  Guinea
                  Guinea-Bissau
                  Haiti
                  Kiribati
                  Laos
                  Lesotho
                  Liberia
                  Madagascar
                  Malawi
                  Maldives
                  Mali
                  Mauritania
                  Mozambique
                  Myanmar
                  Nepal
                  Niger
                  Rwanda
                  Samoa
                  Sao Tome and Principe
                  Senegal
                  Sierra Leone
                  Salomon Islands
                  Somalia
                  Sudan
                  Tanzania
                  Timor-Leste
                  Togo
                  Tuvalu
                  Uganda
                  Vanuatu
                  Yemen
                  Zambia
               
               
                  Armenia (1)
                  
                  Azerbaijan (1)
                  
                  Cameroon
                  Congo, Rep.
                  Côte d’Ivoire
                  Georgia (1)
                  
                  Ghana
                  India
                  Indonesia
                  Kenya
                  Korea, Democratic Republic
                  Kyrgyz Rep. (1)
                  
                  Moldova (1)
                  
                  Mongolia
                  Nicaragua
                  Nigeria
                  Pakistan
                  Papua New Guinea
                  Tajikistan (1)
                  
                  Uzbekistan (1)
                  
                  Viet Nam
                  Zimbabwe
               
               
                  Albania (1)
                  
                  Algeria
                  Belize
                  Bolivia
                  Bosnia and Herzegovina
                  China
                  Colombia
                  Cuba
                  Dominican Republic
                  Ecuador
                  Egypt
                  El Salvador
                  Fiji
                  Guaemala
                  Guyama
                  Honduras
                  Iran
                  Iraq
                  Jamaica
                  Jordan
                  Kazakhstan (1)
                  
                  Macedonia (former Yugoslav Republic)
                  Marshall Islands
                  Micronesia, Federated States
                  Morocco
                  Namibia
                  Niue
                  Palestinian Administered Areas
                  Paraguay
                  Peru
                  Philippines
                  Serbia & Montenegro
                  South Africa
                  Sri Lanka
                  St Vincent & Grenadines
                  Suriname
                  Swaziland
                  Syria
                  Thailand
                  Tokelau (2)
                  
                  Tongo
                  Tunisia
                  Turkey
                  Turkmenistan (1)
                  
                  Wallis and Futuma (2)
                  
               
               
                  Botswana
                  Brazil
                  Chile
                  Cook Islands
                  Costa Rica
                  Croatia
                  Dominica
                  Gabon
                  Grenada
                  Lebanon
                  Malaysia
                  Mauritius
                  Mayotte (2)
                  
                  Nauru
                  Panama
                  St Helena (2)
                  
                  St Lucia
                  Venezuela
               
               
                  Bahrain
               
               
                  Belarus (1)
                  
                  Bulgaria (1)
                  
                  Czech Republic (1)
                  
                  Estonia (1)
                  
                  Hungary (1)
                  
                  Latvia (1)
                  
                  Lithuania (1)
                  
                  Poland (1)
                  
                  Romania (1)
                  
                  Russia (1)
                  
                  Slovak Republic (1)
                  
                  Ukraine (1)
                  
               
               
                  Aruba (2)
                  
                  Bahamas
                  Bermuda (2)
                  
                  Brunei
                  Cayman Islands (2)
                  
                  Chinese Tapei
                  Cyprus
                  Falkland Islands (2)
                  
                  French Polynesia (2)
                  
                  Gibraltar (2)
                  
                  Hong Kong, China (2)
                  
                  Israel
                  Korea
                  Kuwait
                  Libya
                  Macao (2)
                  
                  Malta
                  Netherlands Antilles (1)
                  
                  New Caledonia (2)
                  
                  Qatar
                  Singapore
                  Slovenia
                  United Arab Emirates
                  Virgin Islands (UK) (2)
                  
               
            
                  Threshold for World Bank loan Eligibility ($5185 in 2001)
               
            
                  Anguilla (2)
                  
                  Antigua nd Barbuda
                  Argentina
                  Barbados
                  Mexico
                  Montserrat (2)
                  
                  Oman
                  Palau Islands
                  Saudi Arabia
                  Seychelles
                  St Kitts and Nevis
                  Trinidad and Tobago
                  Turks and Caicos Islands (2)
                  
                  Uruguay
               
            
         (1)  Central and Eastern European countries and New Independent States of the former Soviet union (CHEECs/NIS).
      
         (2)  Territory;
   
   
      ANNEX III
      LIST OF OECD DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
      Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.
   
   
      ANNEX IV
      Extracts from the Recommendation on Untying Official Development Assistance to the Least Developed Countries by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD/DAC), March 2001
      II.   Implementation
      (a)   Coverage
      
                  7.
               
               
                  Untying is a complex process. Different approaches are required for different categories of ODA, and actions by Members to implement the recommendation will vary in coverage and timing. Bearing this in mind, DAC Members will untie their ODA to the least developed countries to the greatest extent possible and in accordance with the criteria and procedures set out in this recommendation:
                  
                              (i)
                           
                           
                              DAC Members agree to untie, by 1 January 2002, ODA to the least developed countries in the following areas: balance of payments and structural adjustment support; debt forgiveness; sector and multi-sector programme assistance; investment project aid; import and commodity support; commercial services contracts, and ODA to non-governmental organisations for procurement related activities.
                           
                        
                              (ii)
                           
                           
                              In respect of investment-related technical cooperation and free-standing technical cooperation, it is recognised that DAC Members’ policies may be guided by the importance of maintaining a basic sense of national involvement in donor countries alongside the objective of calling upon partner countries’ expertise, bearing in mind the objectives and principles of this recommendation. Free-standing technical cooperation is excluded from the coverage of the recommendation.
                           
                        
                              (iii)
                           
                           
                              In respect of food aid, it is recognised that DAC Members’ policies may be guided by the discussions and agreements in other international fora governing the provision of food aid, bearing in mind the objectives and principles of this recommendation.
                           
                        
            
                  8.
               
               
                  This recommendation does not apply to activities with a value of less than SDR 700 000 (SDR 130 000 in the case of investment-related technical cooperation).