WRITTEN QUESTION No. 4033/98 by Undine-Uta BLOCH von BLOTTNITZ EU aid for Somalia and Ethiopia
12. 11. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 325/49 Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (24 February 1999) The Community has already part-financed substantial infrastructure works on the Greek islands in the Aegean Sea to solve problems relating to water, particularly drinking water. This part-finance has been provided through the Integrated Mediterranean Programmes, the Community support frameworks for 1989-93 and 1994-99, the special measures for these islands and certain Community Initiatives. The bulk of these works concern traditional facilities such as dams, rainwater collectors, pipes for drinking water and irrigation networks; they are normally regarded as preferable to desalination since, in most cases, they also help solve the problem of water for irrigation by providing adequate quantities of good quality water at an acceptable price. If proposals relating to the methods referred to by the Honourable Member were put forward by the Greek authorities, the Commission would consider them under the current programmes in the light of alternative solutions, other priorities and the budgetary resources available. Again, if the Greek authorities so request and budgetary resources are available, the Cohesion Fund is still willing to part-finance water-supply projects on the Aegean islands, as it has already done on Mytilene and Crete. It should be noted that this Fund has already financed a study on coordinated measures for the environment on Santorini and Thirassia so that the Greek authorities can submit to the Commission an application for finance for an integrated pilot project including measures relating to water supply, the production of drinking water by desalination, the treatment of waste water and waste disposal. If this pilot project succeeds, it may provide an example of how other islands could find permanent and reliable solutions to their problems. (1999/C 325/060) WRITTEN QUESTION E-4033/98 by Undine-Uta Bloch von Blottnitz (V) to the Commission Subject: EU aid for Somalia and Ethiopia (8 January 1999) 1. Are there any EU aid programmes in support of projects in Somalia and/or Ethiopia? If so, what programmes? What projects have been or are being supported, and what level of funding is 2. involved? Answer given by Mr Pinheiro on behalf of the Commission (1 March 1999) The Community gives development aid to the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group of countries under the Lomé Convention, an association agreement to which both Somalia and Ethiopia are party. The Lomé Convention comprises a financial package, special arrangements for trade cooperation and investment promotion, and a scheme to stabilise commodity export earnings (Stabex). Using this instrument, the Community finances projects in both Somalia and Ethiopia. To provide the fullest possible information on its aid programmes the Commission is sending copies of the latest annual reports covering its activities in Somalia and Ethiopia for the year 1997 direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament’s Secretariat