Question to the European Commission on subsidies to the Cameroonian banana sector

On the 8th June 2012 following a request by AEFJN the Dutch Member of the European Parliament Thijs Berman (from the Socalists and Democrats group) presented a written question to the European Commission asking for clarifications on a grant made to the Cameroonian banana sector.

 

The written question is:

 

Reuters reported on 11 May 2012 that the European Union was to grant EUR 48 million to the Cameroonian banana sector to increase its output. The Cameroonian Trade Ministry is reported as saying that the money will go to the major producing firms.

The major Cameroonian banana producers have repeatedly been accused of human rights violations, of exploiting their workers by forcing them to work long hours for low wages, of exposing them and the local population to pesticides and of taking the land of local owners to expand their plantations.

1. In view of this, did the Commission carry out any analysis of the Cameroonian banana sector before authorising the grant?

2. What measures has the Commission taken in order to ensure that EU money will not contribute to perpetuating these abuses?

3. What control mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that companies receiving EU money will respect the rights of workers and local communities, as well as the environment?

 

The European Commission has given the following reply:

 

The Commission is aware of the controversies surrounding the banana sector in Cameroon and is very careful when tailoring the EU support. A number of studies and evaluations have been conducted since the end of the 1990s. They are contributing to design the current EU approach.

In January 2012, the Commission communicated guidelines for the programming phase of the Bananas Accompanying Measures (BAM) to EU Delegations. Through the BAM, the Commission proposes to support adaptation of targeted ACP countries to the reduced most favoured nation tariffs for imports of bananas. At the same time, the BAM will contribute to reduce poverty, to foster sustainable growth and to ensure the countries' smooth integration into the world economy. One of the priorities is to focus on the broader impacts generated by the adaptation process related (but not restricted) to employment, social services, and environmental issues, particularly in local communities and the most vulnerable groups.

The draft country strategy is currently being prepared by the Commission. Its objective is to achieve competitiveness whilst respecting strict social and environmental norms, in order to generate decent employment and to improve the country's trade balance. The country programme is at the formulation stage and the Commission will assure that social and environmental indicators which will be jointly agreed between the Commission, the Government of Cameroon and the stakeholders, will be taken into consideration.

Finally, the Cameroonian programme, like all other EU financed support actions, will be accompanied by both an internal monitoring system and external independent assessments and evaluations.