WRITTEN QUESTION E-2760/99 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission. The Tirana-Kukes-Prizren-Pristina road link.
C 280 E/124 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 (2000/C 280 E/132) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2760/99 by Olivier Dupuis (TDI) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: The Tirana-Kukes-Prizren-Pristina road link The Kosovo conflict and, more particularly, the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Kosovars to Albania, has not only shown up the inadequacy of road links between Albania and Kosovo but also seriously damaged existing roads. Can the Commission provide any information at its disposal on plans to rebuild and modernise the Tirana- Kukes-Prizren-Pristina road? Can it say what time-scale is involved? Can it also say whether it regards this as a Union priority project for the region? Lastly, can it say say whether any of the various international organisations (such as the IBRD and World Bank) have decided to finance this project, and if so how much each will be contributing? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) The Commission considers the improvement of lines of communication in Kosovo and Albania as a priority, especially to make trade and the delivery of humanitarian aid easier. An emergency programme was set up before the onset of winter to ensure the survival of the Kosovar road network involving specific repairs to the roads. Priority routes for modernisation will be defined in the light of the analysis of foreseeable traffic flows to and from bordering countries. The Pristina-Skopje-Salonica route is a priority, the link with Tirana-Kukes is another possibility, as is the Montenegro route (Podgorica-Bar). The Tirana- Kukes-Pristina road is not on a Pan-European corridor or a major international transit route. The World Bank and the Italians are already rehabilitating the Tirana-Shkoder section, which is part of the Albanian national north-south network. The Shkoder-Kukes section has just been awarded a grant from the World Bank for urgent repairs. The final section between Kukes and the Kosovar border (Morina) may receive a grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Commission is not involved on the Tirana-Morina road link; however it is participating in Albania in several major projects on the Pan-European VIII corridor and the north-south national highway. The general state of the Tirana- Morina road due to lack of maintenance makes it unusable at certain times during the winter and extremely difficult throughout the year. International organisations such as the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Develop- ment, (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are not involved in financing for the road sector in Kosovo. The Commission is ready to undertake the necessary studies with the United Nations Interim Administra- tion Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) on the possibility of improving the road network there and future work in Albania. (2000/C 280 E/133) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2763/99 by Marco Cappato (TDI) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: EU lump-sum contribution to the UNDCP The UNDCP (United Nations Drug Control Programme) is involved in carrying out projects to eradicate and replace opium cultivation in Afghanistan and in other South-East Asian States. In its reply to Question 68 (H-0558/99) the Commission states, The Community is aware that alternatives to opium production are normally not competitive economically The Taliban have a direct interest in the opium and heroin trade and have tried to link it with international recognition. The Commission has therefore not financed