22002D0169

Decision No 3/2001 of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers

of 20 December 2001

on the allocation of resources to Somalia from the Eighth and Ninth European Development Fund

(2002/169/EC)

THE ACP-EC COUNCIL OF MINISTERS,

Having regard to the Fourth ACP-EC Convention signed at Lomé on 15 December 1989 and amended by the Agreement signed in Mauritius on 4 November 1995,

Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000, and in particular Article 93(6) thereof,

Whereas:

(1) By Decision No 1/2000(1), the ACP-EC Council of Ministers adopted transitional measures for the period from 2 August 2000 until the entry into force of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, envisaging the anticipated application of certain provisions of the said Partnership Agreement as well as the continued application of certain provisions of the Fourth ACP-EC Convention.

(2) To ensure the continuation of the support to the population of Somalia, it is appropriate to allocate resources for this purpose. Article 93(6) of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, put into early application by Decision No 1/2000 of the ACP-EC Council of Ministers, provides for the possibility to accord special support to ACP States party to previous ACP-EC Conventions which, in the absence of normally established government institutions, have not been able to sign or ratify the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement. This provision applies to Somalia,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

An amount of EUR 50 million shall be taken from unallocated funds remaining from the Eighth EDF for financial and technical cooperation in favour of Somalia. In accordance with Article 93(6) of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, this support may concern institution building and economic and social development activities, taking particular account of the needs of the most vulnerable sections of the population. The Chief Authorising Officer of the EDF shall assume the functions of National Authorising Officer for the programming and implementation of this allocation.

Article 2

After the entry into force of the Financial Protocol to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, an amount of EUR 149 million shall be allocated for financial and technical cooperation in favour of Somalia, from the long-term development envelope referred to in Article 3(a) of the Financial Protocol. In accordance with Article 93(6) of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, this support may concern institution building and economic and social development activities, taking particular account of the needs of the most vulnerable sections of the population. The Chief Authorising Officer of the EDF shall assume the functions of National Authorising Officer for the programming and implementation of this allocation. Should Somalia, during the period of application of the Financial Protocol to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, accede to this Agreement, the latter allocation will be considered as the envelope for financial assistance available to Somalia under the Financial Protocol.

Article 3

Until the entry into force of the Financial Protocol to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement, Somalia may benefit from regional cooperation projects and programmes under the Eighth EDF. After the entry into force of the said Financial Protocol, Somalia may also benefit from regional cooperation funds from the Ninth EDF.

Article 4

The Chief Authorising Officer of the EDF is requested to take the measures necessary to give effect to this Decision.

Article 5

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Done at Brussels, 20 December 2001.

For the ACP-EC Council of Ministers

The President

D. Reynders

(1) OJ L 195, 1.8.2000, p. 46.