Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-05-13-Speech-2-222"
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"en.20030513.10.2-222"2
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". – We cannot launch anything in today's world without making a new acronym. This is the FTI – which, by the way, is also supported by the IFIs – but I am a member of Acronyms Anonymous and so are many other people. I think I will talk about 'education for all' and the 'fast track initiative'.
The objectives set in Dakar and the Millennium Development Goals in this field of education are the basis of our policy in developing countries. Overall, the Community has allocated an estimated EUR 1.3 billion to education in developing countries for the next 5 years. This is the global figure. It is also providing substantial financing to ACP countries under the 9th EDF in the form of general budget support – EUR 1.66 billion – part of which will benefit the education sector. It is difficult to say exactly how much, and with what sort of direct focus, but one part of this is clearly relevant.
In this context we devote full attention to the fast track initiative as a means to accelerate progress towards education for all. So far only 10 countries have an approved proposal for the fast track initiative, including 7 ACP countries. Unfortunately these 7 ACP countries have not chosen education as a priority sector in their cooperation with the Community. The Commission is therefore looking into the possibility of using old, dormant funds to support the fast track initiative in these 7 countries. The initiative has been prioritised as one of a number of possible so-called 'fast disbursement' mechanisms for the use of dormant amounts of old European Development Fund money. This process is now being discussed with the ACP partner countries.
In addition to the 10 countries that have an approved proposal for the fast track initiative, all other developing countries that meet the eligibility criteria for this, such as a full poverty reduction strategy paper and a credible sector plan, can expect further support to implement their plans. Where possible, the Commission will participate even through existing mechanisms or by recommitting dormant funds. This is now an ongoing effort.
As far as the analytical fast track is concerned, its exact role is still being defined. A specific working group has been set up to further develop this concept.
The timetable is also part of the issue. We recognise that further efforts are required this year and next year to ensure that the implementation of European Development Fund resources is managed in the most efficient manner possible. To this end, seminars were organised in February and March 2003, bringing together the different players in the project management cycle within the process. Delegations, DG-Development and AIDCO. During the seminars, in order to free up idle resources, a substantial effort went into identifying dormant commitments lying under previous EDFs. Targets were agreed with all delegations for decommitments to be achieved by the end of this year.
Decommitments imply an administrative procedure that also involves the headquarter. The same goes for recommitting the money, which will take place in the annual reviews. Partner countries of course have the final say on decisions to use these dormant funds for the fast-track initiative. This is not the only use of the money that we try to free up and accelerate the use of, but the fast-track initiative is clearly identified as one of the priorities."@en1
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