Examination of Witnesses (Questions 100
- 103)
TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2001
MS HELEN
O'CONNELL, MS
COSTANZA DE
TOMA AND
MS RUTH
COLES
100. But in terms of a goal you would agree
that our representation on the Council of Ministers, and our UK
representatives in the Parliament, should be pressing for full
compliance with the DAC reporting criteria?
(Ms de Toma) Yes.
101. And the other issues are means to an end,
are they not? They are management information systems—
(Ms de Toma) Exactly. They are mechanisms.
102.—to enable them to do as quickly as
possible what they must do.
(Ms de Toma) Absolutely.
Chairman
103. Thank you very much for all your help and
taking us through in some detail what is a fairly complex area.
Can I just, in the spirit of the season, ask you to do this in
a single sentence. If Father Christmas were to grant you one wish
so far as European development assistance were concerned, what
would your one wish be, starting with you, Costanza?
(Ms de Toma) Oh dear, that is a difficult one. I feel
like Scrooge. I think in the spirit of the season, as you say,
I would go for a topical issue at the moment, which has not that
much to do with reform but I think the current push to increase
aid levels is important. Obviously it links in with the reform
because it has to do with Member States, the political relationship
between the Community, the institutions and the Member States,
and I think it would be a very welcome present, and also the priority
focus, so not just increasing aid levels but making sure they
are more focused towards poorer countries.
(Ms O'Connell) I would go for very well staffed, with
very strong expertise, well funded, well managed delegations.
(Ms Coles) I would go for clear straightforward application
procedures, transparent assessment and rapid disbursement of monies.
Chairman: Thank you for that very helpful
summary. Excellent.
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