A4-0303/95

Proposal for a Council Regulation on support for rehabilitation programmes in southern Africa (COM(95)0175 - C4-0449/95 - 95/0111(SYN))

The proposal was approved with the following amendments:

(Amendment 1)

Recital 1

>Original text>

Whereas, in its Oslo declaration of August 1988, the conference of the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity on refugees, returnees and displaced persons affirmed the need to provide displaced persons and victims of internal conflict in southern Africa, and in particular Angola and Mozambique, with the means of survival, notably by returning them to their countries and regions of origin and rehabilitation social and economic structures in the countries and regions affected;

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 2)

Recital 2

>Original text>

Whereas the European Parliament, following the work conducted by its SADCC group, approved the inclusion in the 1988 budget of an item to provide rapid and direct aid to people in hardship in the SADCC countries, especially orphans and other children;

>Text following EP vote>

Whereas the European Parliament took the initiative in 1986 of establishing an item in the budget aiming to provide support to the countries in southern Africa which were affected by the deliberate destabilisation orchestrated by the South African apartheid regime; whereas such aid was to be targeted to war orphans and other children, and subsequently to refugees, returnees and displaced persons in line with the recommendations of the Oslo Conference of August 1988, organized by the United Nations and the Organization of African Unity;

(Amendment 3)

Article 1

>Original text>

The Community shall carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in the countries of southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), a region which has suffered considerable destruction through war, civil disorder and destabilization. Operations of limited duration shall be designed to help re- establish a working economy and the institutional capacities needed to restore social and political stability to the countries concerned and meet the needs of the people affected. The operations must progressively take over from humanitarian action and pave the way for the resumption of long-term development aid. They must in particular permit refugees, displaced persons and demobilized troops to return home and help the entire population resume normal civilian life in their countries and regions of origin.

>Text following EP vote>

The Community shall carry out rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in the countries of southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe), a region which has suffered considerable destruction through war, civil disorder and destabilization. Operations of limited duration shall be designed to help re- establish a sustainable economy and the institutional capacities needed to restore social, cultural and political stability to the countries concerned and meet the needs of the people affected. The operations must progressively take over from humanitarian action and pave the way for the resumption of long-term development aid. They must in particular permit refugees, displaced persons and demobilized troops to return home and help the entire population resume normal civilian life in their countries and regions of origin.

(Amendment 4)

Article 2

>Original text>

The priorities for operations under this Regulation shall be: the physical and operational rehabilitation of basic infrastructure; the relaunch of production; the reintegration into society of refugees, displaced persons and demobilized troops; training, information and education to counter the effects of internal conflict and the destabilization operations conducted in the region.

>Text following EP vote>

The priorities for operations under this Regulation shall be: the physical and operational rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, including mine clearance operations; the relaunch of production; the reintegration into society of refugees, displaced persons, disabled persons and demobilized troops; training and education to counter the effects of internal conflict and the destabilization operations conducted in the region. Resources may also be used to encourage and assist the development of economic activity, particularly through the creation of SME's, and by promoting regional economic integration amongst SADC member states.

(Amendment 6)

Article 4(2)

>Original text>

2. Community financing may cover both investment, with the exception of the purchase of buildings, and operating costs in local or foreign currency, depending on the needs of the operation.

>Text following EP vote>

2. Community financing may cover both investment, with the exception of the purchase of buildings, and essential operating costs incurred in the lifetime of a project in local or foreign currency, depending on the needs of the operation.

(Amendment 7)

Article 4(3)

>Original text>

3. A systematic effort shall be made to get the agents or partners ultimately benefiting from the operation (countries, local communities, firms etc.) to contribute, in particular financially, according to their means and the nature of the operation concerned.

>Text following EP vote>

Deleted

(Amendment 8)

Article 4(5a) and (5b) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

5a. In order to reinforce coherence and complementarity between the actions financed by the Community, Member States and other donors, such as the organisations of the UN, the Commission shall take all the necessary measures to ensure consultation, both at institutional and ground levels.

>Text following EP vote>

5b. The Commission shall ensure proper coherence and continuity between its efforts in the fields of humanitarian aid, rehabilitation and development.

(Amendment 9)

Article 6

>Original text>

1. The Commission shall appraise, decide and administer operations covered by this Regulation according to the budgetary and other procedures in force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

>Text following EP vote>

1. The Commission shall appraise, decide and administer operations covered by this Regulation according to the budgetary procedures in force, and in particular those laid down in the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

>Original text>

2. Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million for individual operations financed under this Regulation or any change resulting in an increase of more than 20% in the sum initially approved for such an operation shall be taken under the procedure laid down in Article 7.

>Text following EP vote>

2. Decisions relating to grants of more than ECU 2 million for individual operations financed under this Regulation or any change resulting in an increase of more than 20% in the sum initially approved for such an operation shall be taken under the procedure laid down in Article 7.

>Original text>

3. All financing agreements or contracts concluded under this Regulation shall provide for the Commission and the Court of Auditors to conduct on-the-spot checks according to the usual procedures drawn up by the Commission under the rules in force, and in particular those of the Financial Regulation applicable to the general budget of the European Communities.

>Text following EP vote>

3. All financing agreements or contracts concluded under this Regulation shall provide for the Commission and the Court of Auditors to conduct on-the-spot checks and evaluation measures.

>Original text>

4. Where operations are the subject of financing agreements between the Community and the recipient country, such agreements shall stipulate that the payment of taxes, duties or any other charges is not to be covered by the Community.

>Text following EP vote>

4. Where operations are the subject of financing agreements between the Community and the recipient country, such agreements shall stipulate that the payment of taxes, duties or any other charges is not to be covered by the Community.

>Original text>

5. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms to natural and legal persons of the Member States and the recipient country. It may be extended to other developing countries.

>Text following EP vote>

5. Participation in invitations to tender and the award of contracts shall be open on equal terms to natural and legal persons of the Member States and the recipient country. It may be extended to other countries of the region.

>Original text>

6. Supplies shall originate in the Member States, the recipient country or other developing countries. In exceptional cases, where circumstances warrant, supplies may originate elsewhere.

>Text following EP vote>

6. Supplies shall originate in the Member States, the recipient country or other countries of the region. In exceptional cases, where circumstances warrant, supplies may originate elsewhere.

(Amendment 11)

Article 7(3a) (new)

>Text following EP vote>

3a. Meetings of the Committee set up under this Article shall be held in public and the full minutes transmitted for information to the EDF Committee and, within ten working days of each meeting, to the Committee on Development and Cooperation of the European Parliament.

(Amendment 12)

Article 8

>Original text>

In the framework of the committee mentioned in Article 7(1), the Commission and the Member States representatives will hold an exchange of views, once a year, on the basis of a presentation by the Commission of general orientations for the operations to be carried out in the year ahead.

>Text following EP vote>

In the framework of the committee mentioned in Article 7(1), the Commission and the Member States representatives will hold an exchange of views, once a year, on the basis of a presentation by the Commission of general orientations for the operations to be carried out in the year ahead. A representative from the Committee on Development and Cooperation of the European Parliament shall be present as an observer with the right to speak.

(Amendment 13)

Article 8, second paragraph (new)

>Text following EP vote>

The Commission shall establish the general orientations to be presented on the basis of consultations held with the authorities, partner organisations and beneficiaries in the countries receiving assistance.

(Amendment 14)

Article 9, second paragraph

>Original text>

The summary shall in particular contain information about those with whom contracts have been concluded.

>Text following EP vote>

The summary shall in particular give details of those with whom contracts have been concluded.

Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation on support for rehabilitation programmes in southern Africa (COM(95)0175 - C4-0449/95 - 95/0111(SYN))

(Cooperation procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council, COM(95)0175 - 95/0111(SYN),

- having been consulted by the Council pursuant to Articles 189c and 130w of the EC Treaty (C4-0449/95),

- having regard to Rule 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

- having regard to the report of the Committee on Development and Cooperation and the opinions of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Security and Defence Policy, the Committee on Budgets and the Committee on Budgetary Control (A4- 0303/95),

1. Approves the Commission proposal, subject to Parliament's amendments;

2. Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 189a(2) of the EC Treaty;

3. Calls on the Council to incorporate Parliament's amendments in the common position that it adopts in accordance with Article 189c(a) of the EC Treaty;

4. Calls for the conciliation procedure to be opened should the Council intend to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

5. Asks to be consulted again should the Council intend to make substantial modifications to the Commission proposal;

6. Instructs its President to forward this opinion to the Council and Commission.