Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-03-31-Speech-3-277"
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"en.20040331.13.3-277"2
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".
Mr President, I would firstly like to say that the Commission values Parliament's report and I would like to thank the rapporteur, Mr Scarbonchi, for the excellent work he has done.
I would like to say that the budgetisation of the EDF can promote the efficiency and flexibility of our development aid as a contribution to the eradication of poverty. It will put an end to the peculiar situation of administrating the aid to these countries by means of two different systems and we will thereby be able to increase the efficiency of the funds. Furthermore, it will allow us to establish political and budgetary normality, and simplify and harmonise the procedures, also allowing us to strengthen democratic responsibility, by making it possible for the European Parliament to play its full role as budgetary authority in this important area.
Budgetisation does not jeopardise the qualitative achievements of the Cotonou Agreement. Nevertheless, we understand the concern of the ACP countries about the risks relating to it, in particular with regard to the future level of aid.
We entirely agree with Parliament that there should be no reduction in the funds intended for cooperation with the ACP countries, and the Commission's communication clearly stipulates that the aid to these countries must be maintained, as a minimum, at its current level, and furthermore evolve in accordance with the whole of the heading and, at least, the European Union's gross domestic product.
We also agree with Parliament that we should provide the ACP countries with a degree of protection in order to prevent the funds made available to them from being used for other purposes. We believe that the best solution to this problem is legislation decided jointly between Parliament and the Council with a reference sum for a period of one year.
The Commission’s Communication on budgetisation has given rise to an intense debate, within various bodies, with the ACP countries, with the Member States of the Union, in Parliament and in the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, and has brought cooperation with these countries to the forefront of political debate at a time when the financial perspectives for the period are being debated.
The Council has not yet adopted a definitive position on the issue and the choice between budgetisation or EDF remains open. But it is necessary to reach a Community position on budgetisation during this year, since the negotiations on the revision of the Cotonou Agreement are expected to be held between May 2004 and February 2005.
I would like once again to thank the rapporteur for his work and guarantee that the Commission believes that the level of aid for ACP countries must be maintained and that if there is new support for other countries or if the Commission's efforts are increased in other geographical areas, other than the ACP countries, it must not be at the expense of the ACP countries, but quite simply the global volume of the funds intended for these extremely important European Union policies will be increased."@en1
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