MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

15.3.2006

further to Question for Oral Answer B6‑0006/2006
pursuant to Rule 108(5) of the Rules of Procedure
by Francis Wurtz and Willy Meyer Pleite
on behalf of the GUE/NGL Group
on the revision of the Cotonou Agreement and the setting of the amount for the 10th EDF

B6‑0196

European Parliament resolution on the revision of the Cotonou Agreement and the setting of the amount for the 10th EDF

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the amendments to the ACP-EEC Partnership Agreement, signed in Luxembourg on 24 June 2005, and in particular Annex Ia concerning the 'multiannual financial framework of cooperation under the revised agreement in Cotonou',

–  having regard to the Commission communication 'Towards full integration of cooperation with the ACP countries in the budget of the EU' (COM (2003) 590),

–  having regard to the European Council's conclusions of 15 and 16 December 2005, in particular item 70 and Annex II concerning the respective contribution of the Member States to ACP cooperation,

–  having regard to its previous resolutions on:

–  the budgeting of the European Development Fund (EDF), adopted on 1 April 2004,

–  the political challenges and the budgetary means available to the enlarged Union 2007-2013, adopted on 8 June 2005,

–  having regard to the engagements which the Member States subscribed to in 2005, in particular:

-  that the EU and its Member States will reach the UN target of 0.70% of EU GNI by 2015, which would increase the EU's contribution to the Millennium Development Goals from € 33 billion in 2003 to more than € 84 billion by 2015 (European Council, June 2005),

• -that an intermediate EU target of 0.56% will be reached by 2010, which would take EU ODA flows to € 67 billion (EU Council Summit, June 2005),
• -that the EU and other donors will double aid to Africa and thus provide Africa with USD 25 billion in ODA by 2010 (this will double the 2004 figure ) - (G8 summit, July 2005),

–  having regard to Rule 108(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  having regard to the commitment in Annex 1a to the revised Cotonou Agreement, according to which 'the European Union will maintain, for the new period, its effort of aid for the ACP states at least at the same level as the 9th EDF out of remainders to which it is advisable to add, on the basis of the Community estimates, the effects of inflation, of growth within the European Union and of the enlargement of it in the 10 new states',

B.  whereas, while the Commission had initially calculated for the 10th EDF an average amount of EUR 24.948 million for the period 2008-2013 (6 years), the European Council, at its meeting of 15 and 16 December in Brussels, agreed on EUR 22.682 million at current prices,

C.  whereas this reduction of € 2 billion is in contradiction with the commitments of the Union under Annex 1a to the revised Cotonou Agreement and does not reflect the numerous political promises formulated in 2005 of a substantial increase in government aid for development (ODA),

D.  whereas the ACP states would not have given their approval to the revised Cotonou Agreement without the inclusion of Annex Ia concerning financing, and it is therefore necessary for the EU Member States to keep their promise,

E.  having regard to the accession of East Timor to the Cotonou Agreement on 15 December 2005,

F.  having regard to the concern expressed by the OCTs regarding their exclusion from the 10th EDF and the uncertainty as to whether the future financing of EU cooperation will be to their benefit,

1.  Considers it regrettable that the overall amount for the 10th EDF adopted by the European Council is smaller than the initial Commission estimate;

2.  Considers it regrettable that the numerous political promises made in 2005 for a substantial increase in government aid for development (ODA) were not reflected in a substantial increase in the contribution of the Member States under the EDF;

3.  Calls on the Member States to reconsider their contribution to the 10th EDF and propose a higher level;

4.  Calls on the Council and Commission to clarify the financing for the 'development' dimension of the Economic Partnership Agreements currently under negotiation;

5.  Notes that the contribution of Romania and Bulgaria to the 10th EDF should be additional once their accession to the EU becomes effective;

6.  Calls on the Council to take account of the accession of East Timor to the Partnership Agreement; considers that aid to this new country should appear clearly as additional in relation to the formula of Annex Ia to the revised Cotonou Agreement;

7.  Calls on the Council and Commission to clarify as quickly as possible the question of the future financing of cooperation with the OCTs;

8.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the ACP countries.