91997E3771

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3771/97 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (21 November 1997)

Subject: Humanitarian aid to Bulgaria - actions by NGOs

At its sitting of 10 April 1997 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on humanitarian aid to Bulgaria. This resolution states, inter alia, that 'the Europe Agreement imposes a moral obligation on the European Union to support the Bulgarian population' and that 'this assistance (must) be executed urgently and targeted towards ... especially old people and children, and the medical services'.

Will the Commission say:

1. what actions has it promoted to fund humanitarian aid to Bulgaria?

2. do any programmes exist of cooperation with NGOs? If so, what amount of funding is provided, which countries do the NGOs come from and what is the content of the programmes in question?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (23 December 1997)

The Community, principally through the Phare programme and European Community humanitarian office (ECHO), has continued to provide social and humanitarian aid to Bulgaria throughout 1997.

In response to the difficulties faced by the neediest sections of society, the Commission and Bulgarian authorities agreed, in January 1997, an initial 20 MECU Phare emergency social assistance programme (ESAP1) channelling direct financial assistance to particularly poor households and to selected socio-educational institutions managed by the ministries of labour, education and health.

By a second 20 MECU Phare programme (ESAP2), signed by the Commission and the Bulgarian authorities on 16 October 1997, the Community is providing further direct support to needy families and institutions and, in conjunction with the United Nations development programme (UNDP), a number of urban renovation projects which will stimulate job creation possibilities in five selected municipalities.

During the course of 1997, Bulgaria received programme funds totalling 1.8 MECU, provided by the Commission. The funds were distributed by four European non-governmenal organisations (NGOs) in the form of medicines to medical institutions, a supplementary food programme, food parcels to the most vulnerable and school meals. In March 1997, the Commission also requested the Phare-funded Civil society development foundation, as a direct and practical response to the social crisis, to re-direct grant funding towards Bulgarian NGOs active in socio-humanitarian spheres. Latest figures indicate that approximately ECU 630 000 has been channelled in this way while further direct funding totalling ECU 250 000 is expected to be contracted before the end of the year.