e-zine nEUws, 39th edition

23 August 2004

• Call for Proposals
• New Development Commissioner
• Germany's Government 'Called to Account'
• EU to Consult on Sustainable Development Strategy
• European Commission Approves EUR 5.75 Million for Crises in Asia

Call for Proposals

Call for Proposals for the 21 04 02 Budget Line
As announced in the latest “nEUwsFLASH”, the European Commission is launching a call for proposals for the co-financing of awareness raising actions for television on developing country issues, for broadcasting on European TV stations and/ or in developing countries. The actions will be funded under budget heading 21 04 02 “awareness raising in the field of development”.

The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at the following internet site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl

The deadline for submission of proposals is 8th October 2004 at 16H00 (Brussels time).

Call for Proposals for the 21 02 03 Budget Line
Furthermore, the European Commission is seeking proposals for actions in developing countries to be co-financed with European development NGOs (budget line 21 02 03).

The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation on the following Internet site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl

The deadline for submission of proposals is 26th October 2004 at 16H00 (Brussels time).

Call for Proposals for the 21 02 03 Budget Line
The European Commission is issuing a call for proposals for the co-financing of operations in developing countries with European development NGOs (budget line 21 02 03), using the block grant formula.

The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at the following internet site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl

The deadline for submission of proposals is 16th November 2004, at 16H00 (Brussels time).

Call for Proposals for the 21 02 03 Budget Line
The European Commission is seeking proposals for actions to raise European public awareness of development issues to be carried out in the European Union with financial assistance from the NGO co-financing programme of the European Communities (Budget line 21 02 03).

The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at the following internet site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/cgi/frame12.pl

The deadline for submission of proposals is 23rd November 2004 at 16H00 (Brussels time).

Source: EuropeAid

New Development Commissioner

As you will have heard by now, José Manuel Durão Barroso, the incoming President of the European Commission has announced the list of portfolios for his new commissioners. Louis Michel, the former Belgian Foreign Minister, has been given the Development and Humanitarian Aid DG and will, once confirmed by the European Parliament, take up office in November.

On November 10th, 2001 during Belgium's tenure of the Presidency of the European Union, Michel addressed the UN General Assembly. In his speech which you can find at: http://europa-eu-un.org/articles/fr/article_424_fr.htm Michel announced he would continue to support the creation of a new Global Fund to combat HIV/ AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. In the past, most recently during the Iraq war, it could be observed that Louis Michel stuck firmly to his opinions and beliefs, a characteristic which his is likely to keep in his new job. In judging the track record he has, Louis Michel may yet become the strongest advocate, of our field of action, encompassing knowledge paired with interest and the ability to forcefully promote Development policies.

Source: Wolfgang Lange, DSW

Germany's Government 'Called to Account'

Alfred Biolek, prominent German television personality and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador, presented a giant invoice to the State Secretary of the German Ministry for Development and Economic Cooperation, Erich Stather. The event was held to draw attention to the sum still owed by the German Government as part of its funding commitment to population and reproductive health programmes.

Similar events took place in four other European capitals as part of a European campaign that urges Western governments to meet their financial commitments to promote universal reproductive health by 2015. The campaign, named 'Called to Account – European Action on Countdown 2015', is a joint effort by several European non-governmental organizations (NGOs), led by the Italian Association for Women in Development (AIDOS), the German Foundation for World Population (DSW), Interact Worldwide, Marie Stopes International (MSI) and the World Population Foundation (WPF). The ‘bill event' is one of the most important tools of the campaign.

The ceremony took place in front of Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate and was – thanks to Mr. Biolek – covered by several television stations, radio and print media. Mr. Stather's reaction to the bill's presentation was positive. He stated that the reminder was justified, a point that was highlighted in subsequent media reports.

Source: UNFPA News; Camilla Chausse, UNFPA New York

EU to Consult on Sustainable Development Strategy

On August 6th, the European Commission launched a 12 week consultation on the EU Sustainable Development Strategy. The consultation will gather the views of the public at large, stakeholders and experts in the field will provide an important input to the general review of the strategy that the Commission is required to undertake.

Adopted in 2001, the EU Sustainable Development Strategy aims to achieve a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. Its basic aim is to ensure that economic growth, environmental quality and social inclusion go hand in hand, thereby increasing citizens' welfare. Endorsed by the European leaders in Gothenburg in June 2001, the strategy has the following four basic components:

First, it sets out a broad vision of sustainability based on the core idea that the economic, social and environmental dimensions of societal development must go hand in hand.

Second, it identifies six trends that are clearly not sustainable, in other words six priority issues where problems arise and which pose severe or potentially irreversible threats to our well-being. These are: climate change, public health, poverty & social exclusion, ageing society, management of natural resources, and mobility & transport.
For each of these issues, the strategy identifies a number of objectives and policy measures to help achieve these objectives.

Third, the strategy seeks to improve the way in which policies are made. It calls for a new approach to policy-making to ensure that policies in different domains are designed to work together in a coherent fashion.

Finally, the strategy sets out a commitment to regular monitoring of the strategy and specifies that it will be “comprehensively reviewed at the start of each Commission's term of office.” A new Commission under the President-designate José Manuel Barroso will take office in November 2004.

The current review will examine the progress made since 2001 and reflect on what needs to be done to achieve long-term sustainable development. To prepare for this, the Commission services are launching this public consultation which will gather views on sustainable development, including past achievements and ideas on where to go from here.

The consultation consists of two steps:

• A short on-line questionnaire with general “tick the box” questions about the Sustainable Development Strategy. This is aimed at everyone that is interested in sustainable development, including the general public and non-experts in the field as well as stakeholders and experts.
• A more lengthy and detailed consultation document and questionnaire, with additional questions about the respective parts of the Sustainable Development Strategy. This second step allows for longer replies and is aimed at stakeholders and experts in the field.

The consultation can be accessed on the Your Voice in Europe site: http://europa.eu.int/yourvoice and on the Sustainable Development web-site: http://europa.eu.int/comm/sustainable/pages/consult_en.htm. The latter also includes further information on the Sustainable Development Strategy and the upcoming review.

Contributions can be sent until 31 October 2004. Following the close of the consultation, feed-back will be provided on the outcome on the above web-sites.

Source: Europaworld

European Commission Approves EUR 5.75 Million for Crises in Asia

The European Commission approved three humanitarian aid packages totalling EUR 5.75 million for the victims of ‘forgotten' crises in Nepal, India and East Timor/Indonesia. The money will be administered by the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO). “These funds will make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people living in crisis situations in Asia. Although their plight is rarely featured in the media, they have as much right to humanitarian aid as people living in more high profile crises”, said Poul Nielson, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid under whose aegis ECHO falls.

In Nepal the funds will help meet the basic food needs of the 100,000 refugees from Bhutan living in seven camps in the south eastern part of Nepal. In India the funds will enable continued humanitarian assistance for the most vulnerable people affected by the internal conflict in Jammu and Kashmir. The emphasis is on providing primary health care and psychological support to about 100,000 vulnerable people.

East Timor was hit by a two-year drought from 2001 to 2003 resulting in crop failure and malnutrition. While agricultural production seems to have recovered this year, acute malnutrition continues to affect the population in rural areas of the country.

ECHO funds will be used to meet the nutritional requirements of some 1,300 acutely malnourished children and 2,100 pregnant and lactating mothers. Food security will be assured for 6,500 vulnerable households in the Districts of Bobonaro, Cova-Lima and Liquiça.

In Indonesia, where some 500,000 people remain displaced, internal conflicts continue to affect the capacity of the population of Aceh, Ambon and Central Sulawesi to meet their basic needs. ECHO funds will be used to cover the essential requirements of some 50,000 people affected by conflict in these areas.

Source: Europaworld