A3-0378/93

Resolution on the Global Environmental Facility (GEF)

The European Parliament,

-having regard to the motion for a resolution by Mr Collins and others on the Global Environmental Facility (B3-0687/92),

-having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, especially Article 130r thereof,

-having regard to the Council resolution of 1 February 1993 on the Fifth Environmental Action Programme,

-having regard to the fact that the Community is a signatory to the Conventions on Biological Diversity and Climate Change,

-having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

-having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection and the opinion of the Committee on Development and Cooperation (A3-0378/93),

A.whereas there is common agreement that solving global environmental problems requires international cooperation,

B.whereas global environmental problems are very often linked to development problems,

C.whereas the GEF is to date the only international financial instrument which addresses the global dimension of environmental issues in developing countries,

D.whereas much criticism has been expressed about the functioning of the GEF, and of the role of the World Bank in particular, and whereas this criticism must be scrutinized,

E.whereas the GEF has been assigned new responsibilities, particularly following the conventions with worldwide implications signed in the context of the UNCED, and whereas the GEF is only a temporary financial instrument under these conventions,

F.whereas the present dominant global problems, such as the greenhouse effect, the ozone layer depletion and the loss of biodiversity, are primarily the result of economic activities in the North, but cannot be solved without the solidarity of the countries of the South,

G.whereas the GEF is an instrument which can affect only certain aspects of the world's environmental problems,

H.whereas the countries of the South have a right to sustainable development, which requires solidarity on the part of the countries of the North in the form of greater efforts to assist conversion from activities that cause pollution so as to avoid repeating the mistakes made by the developed countries,

I.whereas the countries of the South must be supported in their efforts to achieve sustainable development, particularly by an increase in aid from the industrialized countries,

1.Welcomes the central role the GEF is to play in global environmental matters under the conditions proposed in this resolution, as well as the trend towards universal membership of the GEF;

2.Considers that the GEF, if provided with substantial additional resources, can be made into a major financial instrument to tackle the world's environmental problems, particularly for the implementation of the Conventions on climate change and biodiversity;

3.Is of the opinion, however, that the GEF's approach to date has been too technical; stresses that further changes are necessary to address the root causes of the environmental (and often developmental) problems in the recipient countries;

4.Believes that institutional reforms are necessary to make the GEF more able to meet the challenges of present and future global environmental problems;

5.Would like to see the GEF become a catalyst for increasing the quality and quantity of bilateral, multilateral and private sector projects for sustainable development, with the GEF becoming a complementary financial instrument for solving worldwide problems that would have to satisfy itself that the preconditions for sustainable development at local and national level were in place;

6.Expects the GEF to ensure transparency and full access to information for all involved parties, including NGOs, throughout the project cycle;

7.Is of the opinion that the GEF secretariat and Presidency must be external to the three executive agencies and in any event independent of the World Bank;

8.Is of the opinion that the role of the World Bank should be limited to that of an executive agency;

9.Regrets that many GEF projects were added almost automatically to World Bank projects: GEF projects should not be attached to mainstream World Bank projects unless the sustainability of these projects and complete access to all relevant information is guaranteed;

10.Would like to see the GEF concentrate on smaller, more locally based projects which would make a contribution to indigenous sustainable development based on human and natural resources, particularly in the area of biodiversity;

11.Considers it important for the GEF to ensure that for each project the local authorities are involved and the population consulted;

12.Is of the opinion that besides a technical evaluation of the projects, an economic, social and environmental evaluation, to which NGOs and local communities should contribute, should play an important role;

13.Requests that this evaluation be undertaken for each project at every stage of the process and in a transparent manner, keeping all parties concerned fully informed;

14.Is of the opinion that the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel should consist of a broad range of scientists, among them specialists on the social and cultural aspects of the GEF portfolio, including those with indigenous knowledge;

15.Calls for the involvement of local population representatives or organisations, and grassroot NGOs throughout the project cycle;

16.Requests that NGOs be given observer status at the Participants' Assembly subject to established UN procedures;

17.Is in favour of the participation of the European Community in the GEF as this would facilitate its coordinating role in international environmental matters;

18.Considers that the token entry which has now been entered in the EC budget for the GEF should in the next few years be endowed with amounts that are commensurate with the problems which the GEF has to tackle;

19.Calls upon the Commission to streamline its activities concerning global environmental matters by forming a task force on the issue, which would consider, among other matters:

-the causes and implications of the current situation,

-proposals for action on sustainable development,

-the funds required for implementing these activities, which must be estimated more accurately;

20.Calls upon the Commission to assess the implications of its own policy for the world environment and, where necessary, to adapt that policy;

21.Deplores the failure of the countries concerned to take a decision at the meeting in Cartagena in December 1993, thereby jeopardizing the very existence of the GEF after the temporary period of operation expires in June 1994;

22.Appeals to the states participating in the GEF to reach an agreement as quickly as possible enabling this financial instrument to carry out its tasks and respond to the world's ecological problems;

23.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the governments of the Member States, the GEF secretariat, the secretariat of the World Bank, the UN Development Programme and the UN Environment Programme.