MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION
2.7.2008
by Thijs Berman, on behalf of the Committee on Development
on the draft Commission decisions establishing Annual Action Programmes for Brazil for 2008 and for Argentina for 2008
(CMTD‑2008-0263 - D000422-01, CMTD-2008-0263 - D000421-01)
B6‑0336/2008
European Parliament resolution on the draft Commission decision establishing Annual Action Programmes for Brazil for 2008 and for Argentina for 2008
(C6‑2008-0263 - D000422-01, CMTD-2008-0263 - D000421-01)
The European Parliament,
– having regard to Regulation 1905/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, of 18 December 2006, establishing a financing instrument for development cooperation[1],
– having regard to the draft Commission decision establishing Annual Action Programmes for Brazil and for Argentina for 2008 (CMTD6‑2008-0263 - D000422-01, CMTD-2008-0263 - D000421-01),
– having regard to the opinion delivered on 10 June 2008 by the committee referred to in Article 35(1) of the above regulation (hereinafter referred to as 'the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) Management Committee'),
– having regard to Article 8 of Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission[2],
– having regard to the Agreement between the European Parliament and the Commission of 3 June 2008 on procedures for implementing Council Decision 1999/468/EC laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission, as amended by Decision 2006/512/EC,
– having regard to Rule 81 of its Rules of Procedure,
A. whereas, on 10 June 2008, the DCI Management Committee voted in favour of the draft Annual Action Programmes for Brazil for 2008 and for Argentina for 2008 (CMTD-2008-0263 - D000422-01, CMTD-2008-0263 - D000421-01),
B. whereas, pursuant to Article 7(3) of Decision 1999/468/EC and Article 1 of the Agreement of 3 June 2008 between the European Parliament and the Commission on procedures for implementing Council Decision 1999/468/EC, the European Parliament received the draft implementing measures submitted to the DCI Management Committee and the results of voting,
C. whereas Article 2(1) of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 stipulates that 'the primary and overarching objective of cooperation under this Regulation shall be the eradication of poverty in partner countries and regions in the context of sustainable development',
D. whereas Article 2(4) of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006 stipulates that 'measures referred to in Article 1(1)[3] shall be designed so as to fulfil the criteria for Official Development Assistance (ODA) established by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD/DAC)',
E. whereas, in its 'Reporting Directives for the Creditor Reporting System' (DCD/DAC (2002)21), the OECD/DAC defines ODA as financial flows to countries on the DAC List of ODA Recipients for which, inter alia, 'each transaction is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective',
Brazil
1. Notes that the draft Annual Action Programme for Brazil for 2008 contains the Academic Mobility Programme for Brazil 2008-2010 (which is the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window for Brazil) as the only action, that this action comes under the Country Strategy Paper's priority sector I 'Enhancing bilateral relations, Action 2: Higher education programme for Brazil' and that the financing of mobility of EU national students and academic staff (up to 30% of the funding for individual mobility for students and staff) is foreseen as an important element of the AAP 2008;
Argentina
2. Notes that the draft Annual Action Programme for Argentina for 2008 contains the Erasmus Mundus External Cooperation Window Argentina as the only action, that this action comes under the Country Strategy Paper's focal sector 'Strengthening of bilateral relations and mutual understanding between the EC and Argentina' and that the financing of mobility of EU national students and academic staff (up to 30% of the funding for individual mobility for students and staff) is foreseen as an important element of the AAP 2008;
3. Takes the view that the Commission, therewith, exceeds, in the Annual Action Programme for 2008 for Brazil and in the Annual Action Programme for 2008 for Argentina, its implementing powers laid down in the basic act, given that the above-mentioned elements are not in compliance with Article 2(1) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006, as the primary objective of these elements is not the eradication of poverty, and as these elements do not fulfil the criteria for ODA established by the OECD/DAC[4];
4. Calls on the Commission to withdraw its draft decisions establishing Annual Action Programmes for Brazil for 2008 and for Argentina for 2008 and submit to the committee new draft decisions fully respecting the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1905/2006;
5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.
- [1] OJ L 378, 27.12.2006, p. 41.
- [2] OJ L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.
- [3] Article 1(1): 'The Community shall finance measures aimed at supporting cooperation with developing countries, territories and regions (...).'
- [4] That 'each transaction is administered with the promotion of the economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective' (OECD/DAC Fact Sheet of October 2006, 'Is it ODA?', p.1).