Euro-MPs set to back Rapid Reaction Facility

Date: 11/01/01

By John Shelley

MEPS are set to approve EU plans to set up an emergency aid fund for overseas crisesbut will tell the European Commission it must spell out how the money will be spent.

The Euro-MPs are expected next week to drop their threat to block the establishment of the Rapid Reaction Facility (RRF), a civilian aid fund designed to bolster the Union's planned new military force.

The Parliament's rapporteur on the subject, British Conservative Bill Newton Dunn, says that although the Parliament will approve the plans, the Commission should specify the kinds of projects the €30-40 million a year will be used to support.

"It's important to define exactly what they might spend this money on," he said. "We would certainly be very critical afterwards if it was spent on the wrong things."

In a bid to clear up the confusion over where the promised aid will go, Newton Dunn has drawn up his own list of projects the Commission could legally support. He suggests it could be used to help with de-mining operations in war-torn countries, help enforce border controls and provide civilian supportin imposing international sanctions.

He also says the cash could be spent on training customs officers, overhauling prison facilities where an urgent need arises and helping to arrange and run democratic elections following a crisis. The Parliament's decision to throw its weight behind the RRF comes after a deal on the scope and administration of the fundwas hammered out between Union nations and the Commission at the end of last year.

Talks between governments and the Commission had become deadlocked last summer and although the Parliament has no power to demand changes to the scheme Newton Dunn threatened to block any unsatisfactory agreement simply by refusing to give the assembly's opinion.

Under the emerging compromise, which Parliament is expected to approve, the emergency cash can only be spent in areas where the EU already has permanent aid programmes and not anywhere in the world, as envisaged by the Commission. MEPs see this as a regrettable move, but necessary for getting the plan on the road quickly.

"A half or two thirds of the loaf is better than none at all," said Newton Dunn.

The Commission, too, has won a key concession in the talks. Under the deal as it now stands, money in the fund can be spent without first going through a time-consuming committee process involving member states, which officials say should mean the reaction facility can be truly rapid.

The RRF was supposed to start from the beginning of 2001, but if as expected the Parliament gives its approval the way could be clear for member states to launch the scheme early this year.

MEPs are set to approve EU plans to set up an emergency aid fund for overseas crises but will tell the European Commission it must spell out how the money will be spent.