WRITTEN QUESTION E-0407/00 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission. Compensation for German shipping and transport firm operating on the Danube following the closing of the Yugoslav section of the Danube.
C 374 E/68 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 (2000/C 374 E/079) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0407/00 by Gerhard Schmid (PSE) to the Commission (15 February 2000) Subject: Compensation for German shipping and transport firm operating on the Danube following the closing of the Yugoslav section of the Danube A number of firms in Regensburg (Germany) are specialised in transport operations from Germany to destinations below Yugoslavia on the Danube. As a result of the war in Kosovo, the destruction of bridges over the Danube, and the subsequent closure of the Yugoslav section of the Danube the business operations of these firms have come to a halt. Since these firms specialise in very specific transport operations on the Danube, they have practically no possibility of branching out into other areas of activity. Can the Commission therefore provide the following information: 1. Should these firms be regarded as victims of the Kosovo war in the same way as firms situated in Kosovo itself? 2. Are these firms eligible for financial restructuring aid to offset their losses? 3. Are these companies entitled to non-reimbursable aid for restructuring or consolidation to offset their ongoing losses and to publicly guaranteed investment aid? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (29 March 2000) The Commission is aware of the specific problems of companies involved, both directly and indirectly, in transport on the Danube as a result of the blockage of the Danube due to NATOís destruction of the bridges at Novi Sad. However, the question of any compensation for such losses cannot be addressed until the issue of liability, if any, for these losses has been determined in the appropriate legal fora. As regards the restoration of navigation on the Danube, the European Commission is presently analysing a request by the Danube Commission for cofinancing of a project proposal for the clearance of a navigation channel by removing the debris of the bridges destroyed by NATO, as well as any unexploded ordnance, and also the repair of the riverbed and banks. The project and its context is complex, from the political, technical and legal points of view. (2000/C 374 E/080) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0410/00 by Glenys Kinnock (PSE) to the Commission (23 February 2000) Subject: Cambodia Is the Commission aware that there are still allegations of a whole range of problems in Cambodia from desperate poverty, famine in some areas, high levels of corruption and abuses of human rights? Does the Commission consider it necessary to implement any conditionalities at this time?