WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2263/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. European cooperation in Brazil
C 45/164 EN Official Journal of the European Communities 10. 2. 98 The Commission has been supporting a small number of projects in third countries on an experimental basis in the framework of the pilot action of European voluntary service. In this context, young volunteers have had the opportunity to take part in social, environmental, cultural and humanitarian activities coordinated by non-governmental organisations. However, the Commission does not feel that it would be appropriate to involve young volunteers in humanitarian operations in war or crisis zones. The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that experience acquired through European voluntary service can help to facilitate the integration of young people into active life. It offers a new kind of informal educational experience, which is complementary to existing training and work experience programmes at national and European level. With regard to social protection issues, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to his written question E-2727/96 (1). (1) OJ C 60, 26. 2. 1997. (98/C 45/216) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2263/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (2 July 1997) Subject: European cooperation in Brazil Will the Commission provide information on cooperation projects it has managed via NGOs or under the Structural Funds and the ESF and which have been implemented recently, are under way or are to be carried out in Brazil? Answer given by Mr Mar ·n on behalf of the Commission (22 July 1997) A number of Commission-funded projects undertaken with Brazil are carried out by European or Brazilian non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Most are either social or environmental in nature. It should be pointed out that neither the Structural Funds nor the European Social Fund offer scope for projects in Brazil. Three kinds of project are carried out via NGOs: › schemes of a primarily social nature (rural projects, support for agricultural training centres, youth organisations, womenís projects, health etc. ), which are selected on their merits; › the projects making up the three-year programmes for street children and disadvantaged groups: the first, which covers four cities (Rio, Recife, Salvador and Belo Horizonte) is already under way, while the second, which is focused on disadvantaged groups in Rio and São Paulo, is in the process of being set up; › individual environment projects or the projects making up the Amazonia pilot programme