The Committee adopted a draft report from Raimondo FASSA (ELDR, I) on the Commission's legislative proposal specifying the objectives and priorities of EU development cooperation with South Africa. The report reiterates the following priorities:
-the improvement of living conditions and basic social services
-support democratisation
-protection of human rights.
This requires the promotion of sound public management and the involvement of civil society in the development process.
Amendments propose that: Assistance be extended to the integration of the South African economy into the global market, as well as employment creation and the development of the private sector. In order to avoid any negative effects caused by the EU-SA trade agreement to SACU members, additional financial assistance should be provided for BLNS (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Swaziland) countries. Some of these funds could be given from the European Programme for Reconstruction and Development.
The Commission should regularly evaluate operations financed by the EU to determine whether they have reached their objectives, and establish guidelines for improving the effectiveness of future operations. These reports will be made available to Member States, the European Parliament and the South African National Assembly, upon request.�