A3-0329/93

Resolution on the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on a special rehabilitation support programme in developing countries

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the Commission communication to the Council and the European Parliament on a special rehabilitation support programme in developing countries (COM(93)0204),

-having regard to the report by the Committee on Development and Cooperation and the opinion of the Committee on Budgets (A3-0329/93),

A.whereas a number of developing countries, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa, now confront a critical economic and social situation as a consequence of conflicts, severe crises or natural disasters in which vital infrastructures, production capacities and the institutional fabric have been severely disrupted, and require large-scale rehabilitation,

B.whereas the Community should make every possible effort, both through political cooperation and a uniform development policy, to prevent crises and settle conflicts by political means, working with existing regional conflict resolution mechanisms,

C.whereas in such cases emergency aid is not intended for assisting with people's efforts to rebuild their economy and restore vitally necessary public institutions, nor is it suitable for doing so; whereas medium- or long-term development projects could not successfully be launched in those countries at this stage,

D.whereas rehabilitation measures can enable those countries to restore economic activities and vital social infrastructure, as well as service and supply institutions within a relatively short time, to support the reconstruction activities of the local population, organizations and government in the areas concerned and to prepare for environmentally appropriate and sustainable development,

E.whereas coordination of these programmes with other Community measures in the development field, together with coordination with the work of international organizations and other international support programmes, is essential if the proposed measures are to be effective and fruitful,

F.whereas with the use of this type of short-term mechanism the situation in the countries concerned can be stabilized and a contribution made to security,

G.fully aware that long-term sustainable development in these countries inevitably involves a revision of development policy and more balanced development aid which fully takes account of the real needs of the population and focuses on human development and respect for the environment,

H.whereas local leadership and management are essential to the success of any rehabilitation; whereas rehabilitation programmes should centre on the real needs of local communities as identified by themselves, and where possible use locally available resources in meeting these needs so as to lead to the environmentally appropriate and sustainable development of the country concerned,

I.noting the resolution of the ACP-EEC Joint Assembly of 1 April 1993 on reconstruction measures in Africa (ACP-EEC 867/93),

J.noting the conclusions of the Council of Development Ministers of 25 May 1993 to the effect that a sum of at least ECU 100 million should be allocated immediately to rehabilitation purposes,

K.noting the initiative subsequently taken for EC support for rehabilitation programmes in Angola, Mozambique, Somalia, Liberia, Ethiopia and Eritrea,

L.recognizing the valuable role non-governmental organizations play in the planning and implementation of rehabilitation programmes through their close connections with local communities,

1.Welcomes the Commission proposal on the special programme under which the Community contribution to supporting rehabilitation in developing countries can be further expanded and strengthened;

2.Considers such a mechanism as both a useful extension to emergency aid measures and a necessary precondition for medium to long-term development work;

3.Takes the view, however, that international cooperation on the relevant programmes and on development in general must be strengthened so as to eliminate in future the ancillary and fragmentary nature of the measures;

4.Takes the view, given the frequency of the crisis situations for which rehabilitation measures are necessary, that a single emergency programme is not sufficient, but that this type of mechanism should be established as a permanent facility that can be called on at short notice whenever extensive reconstruction measures become necessary for a particular country;

5.Takes the view that a separate and sufficient financial framework for this type of measure should be established in the Community budget; considers that the level of funding currently proposed for budget items B7-5071 and B7-5076 falls far short of requirements; will therefore advocate a substantial increase in appropriations;

6.Therefore considers the Commission proposal on financing as a transitional solution whereby the commitment of as yet unused appropriations to priority aims should be secured and, in particular, the provision of new appropriations by the Member States should be urged;

7.Considers the question of flexibility and capability for rapid action as centrally important, and supports the Commission's procedural proposals to that end; appeals therefore to all participants in the decision-making and implementing process to give a high priority to the aspects of rapid aid and efficiency;

8.Calls, in view of the changing task of the Commission's heads of delegation, for the training of Commission delegation staff in sub-Saharan Africa and insists on the flexible deployment of extra personnel and expertise, to enable policy to be properly coordinated in practice and guarantee the sustainability of the measures concerned;

9.Considers that such programmes must be implemented as far as possible by mobilizing the local material and human resources;

10.Therefore advocates that in putting the rehabilitation measures into effect, agricultural production and food supply security, together with rebuilding basic social infrastructures, should be treated as priorities; takes the view, however, that longer-term support needs also to address the psychological and cultural needs of the community;

11.Also takes the view that the principal responsibility for the design, planning and implementation of rehabilitation programmes lies with the affected communities, together with their national and local authorities;

12.Is convinced that the lasting success of the rehabilitation measures will depend fundamentally on their being incorporated into a medium to long-term development strategy; asks the Commission to defend that principle in its negotiations with the governments of the recipient countries, and itself to draw up appropriate strategies in cooperation with or involving other aid organizations and donors;

13.Calls on the Commission to insist, during implementation of the rehabilitation support measures, on the effective involvement of the population and both sides of industry, and to give particular emphasis in these programmes to the most needy sections of the population;

14.Asks the Commission to implement the measures in the package already approved by the Council in close coordination with other organizations active in the recipient countries, including NGOs, and to ensure the highest possible degree of coordination between the Member States and the Community, including additional bilateral commitments from the different Member States;

15.Calls on the Commission, on conclusion of the rehabilitation measures in a country, to forward to Parliament a report on their implementation with an assessment of the results achieved;

16.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council and the governments of the Member States.