92002E2226

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2226/02

by Nuala Ahern (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(23 July 2002)

Subject: Grant for 2001 under Item B7-6200, Forests and Environment

Can the Commission confirm that it could not commit the entire appropriation for 2001 from Item B7-6200, Forests and Environment, because of delays resulting from poor communication between DG Development, DG Environment and the EuropeAid Cooperation Office services, with the result that the resources allocated for sustainable management of the forest ecosystems in Central Africa were significantly reduced?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(25 October 2002)

The Commission regrets that part of the 2001 appropriation for budget line B7-6200 could not be committed. In fact, given the importance of the subject and the fact that certain proposals had almost completed the approval procedure, the services agreed the exceptional measure of carrying over EUR 7 million of the allocated amount, which would otherwise have been lost to the programme.

The Commission fully recognises the importance of the ecosystems in Central Africa and continues to support the conservation and sustainable management of the forests in the Congo Basin. In fact, the two proposals for forest ecosystems in the Congo Basin which were not approved in 2001 have subsequently been adopted, so the resources allocated to this region have not been significantly reduced.