Vol. 533 No. 6
133 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the funding provided by the European Commission for support of overseas abortions; his further views on the issue, arising from reported comments by a European Commissioner, that the European Union would make up any shortfall arising, in view of the banning of such assistance by President Bush; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9872/01]
The US Government recently announced that it was reverting to the so-called Mexico City policy on funding by the US of activities related to health and population. This policy was originally enacted in 1984 following the Mexico City world population conference. It affects all non-governmental organisations, NGOs, receiving US funds for population assistance in developing countries. US NGOs are required to sign a pledge that no US funds will be given to them if they provide support for any developing country, NGO, or other entity that performs research on, or provides abortion, even if either party uses its own resources. Organisations that do not sign the pledge are ineligible for US funding. President Clinton abolished the original policy in 1993. President Bush has now reinstated it.
The United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, does not receive its funds from the same budget as NGOs and is not therefore affected by the reintroduction of the Mexico City policy. The US will give US$25 million to the UNFPA in 2001 which was appropriated in a Bill that received broad bipartisan support in 2000. A bipartisan Bill is being drafted in the House and Senate on the US contribution to the UNFPA in 2002. It should be noted that the UNFPA does not promote abortion. The Cairo programme of action states that abortion should not be promoted as a method of family planning. The UNFPA fully subscribes to this and does not provide support for abortion services. Its guiding policy, as laid down by its governing council in 1985, stipulates that the UNFPA is "not to provide assistance for abortions, abortion services and abortion-related equipment and supplies as a method of family planning". The UNFPA works to prevent abortion through family planning, and to help countries provide services for women suffering from the complications of unsafe abortion.
Improvements in health and dealing with explosive population growth are essential for sustainable development and poverty eradication. The European Union, as part of its overall programme of development assistance, has extensive activities in the inter-related areas of health, AIDS and population, HAP. Over the past decade, the EU has disbursed over £4 billion on HAP. Family planning is just one, small element of the overall programme.
The European Commissioner for development, Mr. Poul Nielson, is reported to have been critical of the US decision to reinstate the Mexico City policy. He is further reported to be examining the implications for the Union's funding for HIV-AIDS and population programmes with a view to a possible increase in Union spending in this area. The EU's activities relating to population are governed by the Council resolution of 19 November 1992 on family planning and Council Regulation No. 148/97 of July 1997 on aid for population policies and programmes in developing countries.
