Cooperation EC/Latin America and Asian countries: aid to uprooted people after 31/12/2000

The committee adopted the report by Maria CARRILHO (PES, P) broadly approving the proposal under the codecision procedure (1st reading), subject to a number of amendments. It sought to extend the scope of the programme by specifying that its objectives should include the establishment of democratic structures and the promotion of human rights. It also wanted various types of action and principles to be included, namely, the sustainability of all production processes, the principle of "non-refoulement", conflict prevention and the need to take account of particularly vulnerable groups such as women and children. The committee was also concerned to ensure coordination between this particular form of aid and other Community development policies. Other key amendments sought to introduce a time limit for the regulation (until 31 December 2004) and establish an overall financial framework of EUR 200m for the four-year period, on the basis of EUR 50m per year, to be agreed by the budgetary authorities during the annual budget procedure. Moreover, provision should be made for investigations by the Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) where necessary. The committee also addressed the question of whether aid to uprooted people in Asia and Latin America should be subject to a special regulation or should be part of the single framework regulation covering the same region. The regulation should therefore be reviewed after three years, on the basis of an independent appraisal report. �