8TH AND 9TH EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT FUND:
RESOURCES TO SOMALIA (6484/07)
Letter from the Chairman to Gareth Thomas
MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International
Development
Sub-Committee C considered the above proposal
on 15 March and decided to hold it under scrutiny.
The Sub-Committee appreciates the desperate
and urgent needs of Somalia, but would like further information
before clearing the proposal from scrutiny, in particular an assessment
of the political situation, and information about how the Commission
intends to work with the Somali Government to disburse the proposed
increase in funds. Will there be Commission presence on the ground
to ensure the proper use of the funds? We would also welcome information
about the effectiveness of previous allocations under the EDF
in improving governance, education and access to safe water.
The Sub-Committee noted that there was no mention
of Somaliland and would particularly like to know what funds are
to be allocated to Somaliland and how would they be disbursed.
What are the future plans for Somaliland?
The Sub-Committee would also welcome information
about whether consideration is being given to the UN itself paying
for operations by the African Union when they are authorised by
a UN Security Council Resolution.
19 March 2007
Letter from Gareth Thomas MP to the Chairman
I refer to your letter dated 19 March confirming
that the Committee is holding the above proposal under scrutiny
pending further information.
You requested an assessment of the current political
situation in Somalia. We continue to support the Transitional
Federal Institutions (TFIs) as the best hope to bringing lasting
peace and stability to Somalia, and welcome the intention to hold
a National Reconciliation conference including all regions and
clans. The recent upsurge in violence in Mogadishu, and the reports
of a disproportionate use of force leading to civilian casualties
is deeply disturbing. There will be no reconciliation without
there first being an end to the violence.
You asked how the European Commission (EC) will
work with the Somali Government, including whether it has a local
presence, and sought information on the effectiveness of its current
activities. The EC Delegation in Nairobi has overall responsibility
for managing the programme and is supported by offices in several
regions of Somalia, including in Somaliland. It is currently the
only major donor with a presence in the country, with 14 staff
based there. The EC provides some 48% of all aid to Somalia. The
EC has agreed with the TFIs to use additional funds for continued
support for reconciliation efforts and institutional capacity
building. It is currently developing a joint strategy with other
donors, including DFID, for how to use funds to be made available
from the 10th EDF (2008-13).
An external evaluation of the EC's programme,
conducted in 2006, provided a generally positive assessment. Despite
the considerable challenges posed by the conflict, the EC's assistance
was considered to be effective and flexibly managed. The choice
of key focal areas were considered relevant, reflecting a good
analysis of the political situation, and complementary to other
donors' programmes, including DFID's support. EC assistance was
considered to have contributed to the successful conclusion of
peace negotiations that led to the establishment of the TFIs in
2004, and successful elections in Somaliland in 2005. EC programmes
have also supported a 23% increase in primary education enrolment
and helped 30,000 adults to receive radio-based literacy training.
Through its rural and urban programmes, the EC is helping to bring
safe water and sanitation to 250,000 and 500,000 people respectively.
You asked whether Somaliland receives any support
from the EC and how it is disbursed. Some 50% of the 9th EDF funds
available to Somalia are supporting programmes in Somaliland in
the areas of economic growth and diversification, private sector
development, good governance and peace building, rural development
and food security, and health and education services. We expect
Somaliland to similarly benefit from EC funding through the 10th
EDF, though it will not receive a specific allocation.
Finally, you asked whether the UN is giving
consideration to paying for AU missions which have been authorised
by the Security Council. There is currently no provision for such
funding by the UN. The lack of predictable, flexible financing
for African peace missions remains a serious constraint on their
ability to fulfil their mandates, as we have seen with the AU
mission in Darfur. This is becoming widely recognised. On 28 March
there was an open Security Council debate, chaired by South Africa,
during which this issue was raised. A subsequent Security Council
Presidential Statement requested the Secretary-General to provide
recommendations on ways in which the UN could deepen its cooperation
in this regard with regional organisations, especially the AU.
We welcome this and are committed to working with partners at
the UN and within the EU and G8 to find sustainable long-term
funding solutions. EU Member States have recently agreed to provide
€15 million from the Africa Peace Facility, funded through
the 9th EDF, to support the AU mission in Somalia.
I hope this information will allow your Committee
to lift scrutiny on this proposal and in particular before the
ACP-EC Joint Council of Ministers on 24-25 May. The Presidency
is aiming to put this on the agenda of the 15-16 May GAERC.
18 April 2007
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