WRITTEN QUESTION E-0105/00 by Gerardo Galeote Quecedo (PPE-DE) and José Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Middle East peace process and negotiations between Syria and Israel.
24. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 303 E/141 (2000/C 303 E/152) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0089/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (26 January 2000) Subject: Negotiation of the new fisheries agreement between the European Union and Morocco The initial public reports concerning the first interview, on 20 December 1999, between Mr Franz Fischler, Commissioner, and the Moroccan authorities with regard to the negotiation of the new fisheries agreement between the EU and Morocco are highly unfavourable. It proved impossible for the negotiations to be launched and the public statements made by members of the Moroccan Government appear to allow no possibility of establishing new agreements which do not involve the setting up of joint ventures. If these implications thereof would be that Spanish ü and reports are accurate (and if they are, the practical therefore Galician ü vessels would no longer be able to fish in Moroccan waters), what negotiating positions and instruments does the Commission intend to adopt and use? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) The Commission can confirm that the position set out by the Commissioner for agriculture and fisheries to the Moroccan authorities during his visit to Rabat on 20 December 1999 is based on the need to establish a new framework for relations in the fisheries sector between the Community and Morocco which will be mutually beneficial and take account of the needs of the industry on both sides. The Commission reaffirms the negotiating position expressed over recent months, in particular in the negotiating instructions approved by the Council in October 1999. The Commission will make use of all the negotiating instruments available to it to establish a new framework for partnership between the Community and Morocco. (2000/C 303 E/153) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0105/00 by Gerardo Galeote Quecedo (PPE-DE) and JosØ Salafranca SÆnchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Commission (26 January 2000) Subject: Middle East peace process and negotiations between Syria and Israel Syria and Israel have now opened peace negotiations in Shepherdstown with the United States acting as mediator, and have begun to address issues linked to security and the normalisation of relations. Given the importance which the European Union attaches to the Middle East peace process, in which relations between Syria and Israel play a crucial part, and bearing in mind that, up till now, the European public has not seen many signs of European Union influence in that process, can the Commission answer the following: ü what plans has the Commission drawn up to ensure European Union participation in the negotiations between Syrians and Israelis and in other negotiations linked to the Middle East peace process? ü what is the Commissionís estimate of the costs of European Union participation in security and peace- keeping systems on the border between Israel and Syria? C 303 E/142 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 24. 10. 2000 Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (22 February 2000) The Commission welcomes the resumption of direct talks between Israel and Syria and hopes that further rounds of talks will soon be possible. The Commission shares the view that the Community must actively contribute to the peace process to help consolidate the progress made and thus help pave the way to a permanent settlement. It will seek to make an active contribution at the current crucial stage, not least in view of the implications that the new phase might have on the Community. On 24 January 2000, the General Affairs Council invited the Presidency, Special Envoy and Commission to pursue contacts with the parties to the peace process, as well as with the United States, with a view to maximising Community constructive input to all tracks of the peace process. In addition, the High Representative, Special Envoy and Commission were invited to examine in detail a number of issues on which the Community would be better placed to make a significant contribution, including security, water and refugees. The Commission will actively participate in such assessment with a view to further consideration by the Council in due course. (2000/C 303 E/154) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0108/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission (26 January 2000) Subject: Crisis in the financial system and the Euro-Asian Development Bridgeí It is no secret that the entire international financial system is in a state of crisis, since the áfinancial bubbleí has expanded to more than US$ 160 thousand billion and is probably about to burst. In the countries affected by speculation the adverse effects are obvious: a fall in production and the suspension of any innovative investment have brought about a rise in unemployment and the spread of poverty, with highly volatile social consequences. Furthermore, the Commission doubtless knows about the project called the large-scale infrastructure, which is Euro-Asian Development bridgeí, consisting of apparently being discussed by China, Russia, India, Iraq, Turkey and most other Asian countries, joined recently by Japan, who are drawing up measures for taking part in the projectís implementation. Since the projectís success depends on the use of advanced technologies and American and European machine tools, it seems obvious that the project cannot be executed without the active participation of Europe. the creation of Can the Commission say: 1. whether it has had the opportunity to assess the project; 2. if so, whether it does not consider that Europeís participation would have a stabilising effect on the real economy and employment in the Union countries; 3. whether it does not also consider that a project of this kind would help to reverse the current tendency to focus exclusively on the financial aspects of the economy, with all the attendant risks, the symptoms of which have been apparent in the last two years, and to promote a return to the real economy; 4. what might be the reasons militating against Europeís participation in the execution of the project; 5. what steps it intends to take to involve Europe in this major international debate? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (25 February 2000) Current opinion on the financial crisis in Asia and its impact on the real economy and the societies of the countries concerned is that the worst is over and that growth has recommenced in some of the countries