Brussels, 01/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - In his hearing with the European Parliament development committee as Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner designate, Karel De Gucht pointed out on Tuesday 1 September that he had spent 14 years (1989-1994) as an MEP. Paying tribute to his predecessor, he said that the work done by Louis Michel “makes my life easier today”. “I can take on the objectives that guided his policy,” he added. Among the important factors, De Gucht spoke specifically of the economic and financial crisis which is hitting developing countries hard. The Pittsburgh summit will provide a great opportunity to implement the commitments made to low revenue countries in April, he said, before stating that he hoped for an ambitious agreement at the Copenhagen conference on climate change. He highlighted the need to maintain the volume of aid - something that is especially difficult in times of crisis - while improving its effectiveness and transparency. “In helping our partner countries, we are also acting in our own interest,” he noted, before underlining the need to keep a close watch over the development of the very fragile situations in countries and regions such as the Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Niger, Madagascar, Fiji, Cuba and the Horn of Africa. He spoke of the need to make the EU strategy for Africa a reality and to prepare for the EU-Africa summit in 2010. Turning to humanitarian aid, he stressed that humanitarian missions had to be independent, with needs increasing as a result, for example, of climate change (in 10 years, the number of natural disasters has tripled). Stating that 122 humanitarian workers had been killed in 2008, he stressed that international humanitarian law had to be more widely applied.
In response to a question from Luxembourg Liberal MEP Charles Goerens on China's role in Africa, De Gucht said that “China can bring a lot of money for the development of Africa” but China also had to comply with international rules. Judging by the reaction of some member states when China intervenes in Africa, “the impression given sometimes is of being back in the Cold War,” De Gucht stated, calling on member states to “look at themselves in the mirror”. Responding to questions from Belgian Green MEP Bart Staes and French Green MEP Catherine Grèze on his wish to retain the same portfolio in the next Commission, De Gucht said: “I am really interested in this area, but it will depend on how portfolios are allocated in the next Commission, assuming I get through this hearing today”. Questioned by Franck Vanhecke (Vlams Belang) over his position in relation to the Fortis bank crisis in Belgium, the commissioner designate said that the investigation carried out by the Ghent Court of Appeal “shows that absolutely nothing can be reproached of me”. In answering the Finnish Green MEP Heidi Hautaula, he stressed the importance of human rights (he deplored the denial of human rights and the violence against women witnessed in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo) in the context of development cooperation policy. He argued for a very consistent application of budgetary aid. He said that following an intervention by Sweden and the United Kingdom, the amount of aid to Rwanda was reduced, which meant the Rwandan authorities had to make changes.
The target of 0.7% of GDP “is a challenge for all member states,” De Gucht acknowledged, referring to the difficult budgetary decisions he knew in the Belgian government. He felt it was “perfectly natural” that the European Parliament seek to include the European Development Fund (EDF) in the budget. Responding to Patrice Tirolien (Socialist, France, Guadeloupe) on cooperation between the outermost regions and the ACP countries, he said he was for more cooperation on climate change. For this, the EDF and the ERDF must be better coordinated. Lastly, he told Belgian Socialist Véronique De Keyser who was concerned over the possible “effect of his legendary forthrightness on diplomatic relations”, that “I will try to control that. But when one speaks the truth, people react. Before speaking publicly to Kinshasa (Ed: he was referring to the Belgian-Congolese crisis after the statements about his abilities as foreign minister), I had had the opportunity to tell them face to face”.
The plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday 16 September will deliver its decision on the appointment of the three new commissioners for development, budget and regional policy. (O.J./transl.rt)