Consolidación del Archivo: Convenios y actores

• In April 2001, the Commission adopted a Communication on linking relief rehabilitation and development (LRRD) The Commission has undertaken a number of actions to implement the policy principles of Linking Relief Rehabilitation and Development (LRRD) The Commission is in the process of proposing further orientations and decisions to that end, including:

– restructuring of budget lines and regulations to be used for linking relief and development;

– establishing guidelines for ECHO’s exit strategies;

– establishing an agenda for improving its working methods with a view to increasing its capacity for rapid interventions.

In 2001, ECHO’s mandate and role vis-à-vis the other Community instruments in the field of external relations was further clarified with respect to its role in the so- called “transition gap” between relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD). As outlined in the Commission Communication on LRRD,68 ECHO will focus on its core mandate, while development co-operation will have to strengthen efforts to

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COM(2001) 301 final of 8.6.2001. 68

Commission Communication on Linking Relief, Rehabilitation and Development – An assessment (COM 2001 (153) final of 23.4.2001).

bridge the gap from the other side. In order to further enhance its transparency and predictability, ECHO prepared a working paper in December 2001 to clarify its general criteria for phase-outs and hand-overs. The working paper established these criteria in two steps:

1) by defining the modalities for a smooth transition from humanitarian assistance to rehabilitation and development, and

2) by looking at the main contextual factors that will have an impact on the modus operandi for phase-outs.

3.5.1. The main instruments

• Aid for uprooted people

A new legal basis69 came into force in 2001, under which action for Asia and Latin America can be programmed until 2004.

Furthermore, as the convention currently in force between the European Community and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA)70 is about to expire, the Commission has obtained a negotiating mandate from the Council to draw up a new Convention to last for 4 years.

As regards the ACP countries, Article 255 of the Lomé IV Convention allows resources of the European Development Fund to be mobilised to assist uprooted people in these countries.

• Rehabilitation schemes

EC policy in this field is governed by Council Regulation 2258/96 of 22 November 1996 on rehabilitation and reconstruction operations in developing countries (published in OJ No L 306 of 28 November 1996). These operations: “of limited

duration and to be launched as quickly as possible without compromising the quality of assessment, shall be designed to help re-establish a working economy and the institutional capacities needed to restore social and political stability to the countries concerned and meet the needs of the people affected as a whole. The operations must progressively take over from humanitarian action and pave the way for the resumption of medium-term and long-term development aid”.

• Action against antipersonnel land mines

Although Community operations in this field have their own budget heading of a general scope, they did not until now have a specific legal basis. Here again, the adoption of a legal basis71that is valid until 2009 will help to increase the coherence of operations by means of medium-term programming.

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Regulation (EC) No 2130/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 October 2001 on operations to aid uprooted people in Asian and Latin American developing countries, OJ L 287, 31.10.2001, p 3.

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EC-UNRWA Convention 1999-2001, Council Decision, OJ L 261, 7.10.1999. 71

Regulations (EC) No 1724/2001 and 1725/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2001 concerning action against anti-personnel landmines in developing countries, OJ L 234, 1.9.2001.

• NGO cofinancing

Council Regulation No 1658/98 of 17 July 199872 on cofinancing operations with European NGOs is also an instrument for financing development operations that take over from humanitarian operations.

3.5.2. The main areas of action in 2001

• Aid for uprooted people

Although operations in Latin America continue, new commitments in this field primarily concern uprooted people in Asia in situations of prolonged crisis. These are people who come from Afghanistan, Burma/Myanmar, Sri Lanka and the Philippines (Mindanao). The projects currently under way cover a wide variety of fields, ranging from assistance to refugees in camps – generally implemented by the UNHCR – to operations carried out by international and local NGOs working in the fields of education, health, water supplies or rural development. Where the situation allows, the emphasis is on returning people to their regions of origin.

As a result of the deterioration of the situation on the ground in the Middle East, the European Community has decided to increase its contribution to the activities of UNRWA. Besides its annual allocation for 2001 (€ 42 million), an additional contribution of € 15 million was mobilised for operations in the field of education and primary health care for refugees in four geographical areas: West Bank, Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria.

As regards the ACP countries, a convention of € 25 million was signed with the UNHCR for the voluntary repatriation of Burundian refugees currently in Tanzania on the basis of Article 255.

• Rehabilitation operations

Rehabilitation operations are financed from various budget headings covering different regions of the world (Asia, East Timor, Latin America, Mediterranean, New Independent States and ACP countries). The projects funded take several forms and cover very varied sectors, ranging from support for grassroots community organisations to large-scale projects to rehabilitate infrastructure.

East Timor deserves special mention: Community support combined with the international community’s efforts under the Trust Fund for East Timor is contributing to the creation of an independent State. The fact that elections for the constituent assembly went smoothly in September 2001 augurs well for the continuation of the reconstruction process.

• Action against antipersonnel land mines

Action against antipersonnel land mines concerns the countries worst affected by this scourge. These operations cover both de-mining operations (Afghanistan, the Balkans, Angola, Mozambique, Somalia, Laos), and the establishment of information systems (Balkans) and institutional support (Cambodia).

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