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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 6

Written Answers. - Overseas Development Aid.

Phil Hogan

Ceist:

117 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need for additional financial and other assistance to help many African nations deal with famine; and the action he will propose to his EU colleagues to implement an immediate action plan to alleviate this human misery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27525/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

123 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to administrative difficulties causing delays in delivery of EU humanitarian aid to various locations throughout the world; if he has made any endeavours to refine and expedite the process; if moneys already committed under this programme have in fact been fully allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27531/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 123 together.

One of the objectives of Ireland's programme of development co-operation is improving the situation of the millions of people affected by crisis, conflict and natural disasters in Africa and elsewhere in the world. Africa, where Ireland has six priority country programmes, is of particular concern where many local conflicts have spilt over into a large crisis belt spanning across the continent from Sudan in the north-east through the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Great Lakes in the centre to Angola in the south-west. This is exacerbated in some regions by the effects of natural disasters such as the ongoing drought that extends from the Horn of Africa far into Asia. The humanitarian situation in other regions of the world continues to be precarious in protracted crisis areas, particularly least developed and conflict-ridden states.

In view of these overall developments, it is more important than ever for the humanitarian community, including the European Union, to develop effective policies and procedures so that the available resources are spent as effectively as possible to meet the most urgent and pressing humanitarian needs.

The evaluations of EU aid have highlighted the complex internal financial controls, a centralised bureaucracy, a proliferation of different funding instruments and a lack of co-ordination between different directorates in the Commission, as impeding the effective delivery of EU aid. The current institutional reform process within the European Union's institutions, therefore, provides a unique window of opportunity for the European Community humanitarian office to reposition itself within an evolving institutional context. It has already initiated internal reform as a consequence of the 1999 Communication on the Assessment and Future of Community Humanitarian Assistance. The year 2001 will be a decisive year for ECHO to introduce a number of changes in the organisation.

The European Union foresees funding operations in approximately 60 countries and territories in 2001. The current orientations given by the budgetary authority – European Parliament and Council – seem to indicate that a budget of approximately 470 million could be made available for European Union funded humanitarian assistance in 2001. In case of unexpected major crises, ECHO might have to draw on the Commission emergency reserve, which is expected to be in the order of 208 million. The budget for 2000 of 480 million has been fully allocated with 460 million already spent.
The EU also provides medium to long-term assistance for food security measures. The nature of these interventions is quite varied but principally involves provision of technical assistance in the development of early warning systems and more efficient forward planning. Infrastructural funds are also provided, typically the construction of roads which will aid in the more efficient delivery of food aid.
Food security measures fall within the scope of the ongoing reform of the Commission's management of external assistance. We have been particularly critical of delays in the delivery of EU food aid. The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell wrote to the EC Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Mr. Poul Nielson, earlier this year drawing attention to the EU's inability to react rapidly to the food crisis in Ethiopia. In addition, the Minister of State met Commissioner Nielson last Thursday, 23 November, and used the occasion to urge further reforms in the European Union's $5 billion per annum development assistance programme. Ireland together with a number of other like minded member states will continue to press for early action by the Commission to make the EU's aid programme more effective.
Question No. 118 taken with Question No. 77.
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