7. PARTICIPATION IN EC DEVELOPMENT POLICY
OF NON-STATE BODIES
(23985)
14105/02
COM(02) 598
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Commission Communication: Participation of non-state actors in EC development policy.
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| Legal base: | —
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| Department: | International Development
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| Basis of consideration: | Minister's letter of 20 January 2003
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| Previous Committee Report: | See HC 63-vi (2002-03), paragraph 2 (8 January 2003)
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| To be discussed in Council: | No date set
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| Committee's assessment: | Politically important
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| Committee's decision: | Cleared
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Background
7.1 The EC's Development Policy Statement of November
2000[21] recognises that
ownership of strategies by partner countries, and wide-ranging
participation by all segments of society, are key to successful
development programmes and should be encouraged.
7.2 The Communication is a contribution to the broad
policy discussion on this participatory approach. It aims to clarify
expectations and focusses on strengthening the involvement of
Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the development process. Examples of
NSAs include non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based
organisations and their representatives, whether from trade unions
or employers' associations, business organisations, associations
of churches, universities, cultural associations, media groups
or the private sector.
7.3 The Commission notes that, according to Article 7(1)b
of the Humanitarian Aid Regulation (1257/96), in order to qualify
for Community financing under the Regulation, NGOs are required
to have their main headquarters in an EC Member State or in a
third country in receipt of Community aid. Exceptionally, their
headquarters may be in a third donor country. In the Communication,
the Commission notes that, although third-country NGOs are not
eligible for direct funding from the European Community Humanitarian
Office (ECHO), they play an important role.
7.4 Commenting on the document, the Secretary of State
said that the Government welcomed the approach set out in it but
did not agree that EC humanitarian aid funding through ECHO should
be restricted to funding NGOs with headquarters in an EU member
state or exceptionally in a third donor country. In the Government's
view it should be possible to form partnerships with NGOs which
are not based in the EU, when southern (developing country) NGOs
have the necessary capacity.
7.5 On consultation, the Secretary of State informed
us that the Liaison Committee of European Development NGOs (CLONG)
and the UK NGO network, British Overseas NGOs for Development
(BOND), had both been consulted by the Commission and proposed
to put together a common position of European NGOs on the document.
The Minister's letter
7.6 When we considered the document on 8 January, we
asked the Secretary of State for more information. We noted that
the Government did not agree with the provision of the Humanitarian
Aid Regulation on third-country NGOs and asked the Minister whether
it intended to press for the Regulation to be amended so that
southern NGOs which are not based in the EU can qualify for EC
humanitarian aid funding. She says that the Department for International
Development (DFID) will continue to encourage ECHO to find creative
ways of establishing partnerships with southern NGOs. The Department
would certainly consider pressing for a change in the Humanitarian
Aid Regulation and would keep the Committee informed of progress.
7.7 We also asked the Minister to inform us if the analysis
made by the two NGO networks and their subsequent common position
on the document, resulted in any representations to the Government
or the Commission that the policy proposed in it should be changed
in any significant way. She replies:
"European and UK NGOs have had the opportunity to informally
discuss the Communication with the Commission. The more formal
common position from European and British NGOs on the Communication
has been delayed and is not now expected to be available until
the end of February 2003. BOND, the UK NGO network, has, however,
confirmed they do not envisage the common position advocating
[for] any major changes in EC policy outlined in this Communication,
but rather clarifications or elaborations on specific issues from
the Commission".
Conclusion
7.8 The Secretary of State has supplied the information
we requested and we thank her for undertaking to keep us informed
regarding the Humanitarian Aid Regulation.
7.9 We now clear the document.
21 (21703)
- ; see HC 23-xxviii (1999-2000), paragraph 31 (1 November 2000). Back
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