WRITTEN QUESTION P-0808/00 by Hans Modrow (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Sanctions against Yugoslavia.
28. 12. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 374 E/161 For want of more detailed information, the Commission in unable to comment on the situation the Honourable Member is referring to. Nonetheless, as part of its follow-up of the procedure it will check that the Italian measures remain fully compatible with the Community rules on State aid. (1) OJ L 227, 28. 8. 1999. (2000/C 374 E/190) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0806/00 by Gerardo Galeote Quecedo (PPE-DE) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: Role of the Commission representative during official European Parliament visits In view of the various different practices followed in respect of the role of the Commission representative during official visits by representatives of the European Parliament, could the Commission explain whether there are any rules governing the role of the Commission representative during official visits to third countries by parliamentary bodies, particularly as regards matters such as organisation, protocol, participa- tion, etc? Could the Commission also say whether there are any rules on its participation in meetings of parliamentary committees and interparliamentary delegations in Brussels, when issues are discussed for which its presence might by useful in providing information relevant to Parliamentís work? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (27 March 2000) The role of the head of delegation of the Commission in third countries during official visits for the Parliament is defined in the Manual of operational procedures. This role involves, inter alia, meeting the delegation of the Parliament on arrival in the country, providing (within reasonable limits) logistical support, briefing them on the situation in the country and on particular points of interest and accompanying the delegation from Parliament on their visits. It can also involve assistance, where needed, with local media contacts and where possible, offering appropriate hospitality. The Commission adopted in 1999 a communication to the Council and Parliament in which it stated that heads of delegation could appear before parliamentary committees and inter-parliamentary delegations in the same way as officials of the Commission based at headquarters do. On such occasions they could answer specific questions concerning the exercise of their functions. The Commissioner in change of external relations has encouraged heads of delegations to offer, during visits to headquarters, to brief the relevant committee or delegation on the state of relations between the Union and the country or countries to which he is assigned. (2000/C 374 E/191) WRITTEN QUESTION P-0808/00 by Hans Modrow (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (9 March 2000) Subject: Sanctions against Yugoslavia In connection with their decision to suspend air traffic with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia for six months the Member States of the European Union have drawn up a list of several hundred Yugoslav citizens who are subject to a general ban on entry to the European Union. C 374 E/162 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 28. 12. 2000 Will the Commission say: ü Which institution drew up this blacklist and which criteria did it use to do so? ü Was the European Parliament consulted before this step was taken and if not, is there any intention of remedying this situation? ü Is it true that this list includes the names of the Minister for Refugee Affairs, Belgradeís ambassador in Skopje and senior officials in the fields of the economy, trade and healthcare, i. e. persons directly involved in alleviating and eliminating the consequences of the war? ü What does it mean by the phrase ápersons who have contributed substantially towards strengthening the Milosevic regimeí? ü Is it aware that by imposing tougher sanctions in this way it is actually undermining the position of the Yugoslav opposition movement which considers that EU sanctions are strengthening the present regime in Belgrade? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (29 March 2000) The Commission recalls that the Council has determined the criteria by which individuals are included in and removed from the list of those to whom visas will not be issued for entry into Member States. The visa ban lists are adopted by Council Decision implementing Article 1 of common position 1999/318/ CFSP (1). The Parliament was not consulted in advance on this list. Under Article 15 of the Treaty on European Union, such consultation is not foreseen. The list contains the names of members of the Belgrade regime and their supporters. In exceptional cases, exemptions may be made if this would further vital Union objectives and be conducive to political settlement in accordance with Article 1(4) of the common position. The Commission considers that the phrase to which the Honourable Member refers is self-explanatory. The Commission does not share the Honourable Memberís assessment that the toughening of the sanctions strengthens the Former Republic of Yugoslavia regime and is detrimental to the Serbian opposition. The sanctions are, as far as possible, applied in such a way as to impact on the regime but not the population. The visa ban, for instance, is recognised as an effective sanction against the regime in Belgrade, while some of the other sanctions have already been partly lifted (e. g. the flight ban and oil embargo as regards Kosovo and Montenegro) or are being temporarily suspended (e. g. the flight ban on Serbia, as part of a wider package of strengthening both the visa ban and the financial sanctions). The suspension of the flight ban was, inter alia, a response to demands by the Serbian democratic opposition. (1) OJ L 123, 13. 5. 1999. (2000/C 374 E/192) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0811/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Council (20 March 2000) Subject: Minister Christian Sautterís behaviour At the meeting of EU Finance Ministers in Brussels on 28 February the French Finance Minister, Christian Sautter, caused a stir by displaying an unusual sticker. Attached to his overcoat and, later, his suit was a palm-size sticker showing a no-traffic sign with the diagonal through a bow tie, the trademark of the new