WRITTEN QUESTION P-1607/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission. European funding for Russia.
C 170 E/50 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 6. 2000 In the case of the dioxin crisis, it was also decided at Community level to take the livestock off the market to protect public health. In this case, however, the danger to human health did not arise from a viral or bacterial infection but from human error. Nonetheless, the impact on firms is similar. Does the Commission not consider that given the scale of the dioxin crisis in Belgium and the fact that human error of this kind may also occur in other Member States, it is desirable to broaden the legal basis for Community support so that in future when there is objective evidence of disease in animals and the infected livestock and derived products are unfit for human consumption and have to be withdrawn from the market this can be regarded as sufficient grounds for Community support for the firms concerned? Will the Commission bring forward legislative proposals, if necessary, to create such a legal basis? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (8 October 1999) It is quite correct that, as Community law stands, i. e. Council Decision 90/0424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (1), the only provision for financial intervention by the Community covers the eradication and monitoring of the diseases listed in the annex to that Decision; the list includes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in particular. The dioxin crisis was not caused by one of the diseases on that list but was due to human error causing pollution within the food chain. The Commissionís feeling is that, in cases of human error, the rules and regulations on liability should in principle come into play. In no circumstances can the originator of the pollution be compensated. As to the scope open to Member States for granting state aid to private individuals or businesses which have suffered adverse consequences as a result of such an error, the Commission invites the Honourable Member to consult the answer which it gave on this subject in connection with question P-1609/99 (2). (1) OJ L 224, 18. 8. 1990. (2) OJ C 27 E, 29. 1. 2000, p. 147. (2000/C 170 E/055) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1607/99 by Raffaele Costa (PPE-DE) to the Commission (7 September 1999) Subject: European funding for Russia According to reports from various international sources, at least some of the funds granted to Russia by the international community have been misappropriated to further private interests, and in some cases substantial amounts are involved; consequently there is an urgent need for effective monitoring of the use actually made of all European Union spending in Russia in recent years in the form of humanitarian aid, grants, loans on favourable terms and Community programmes under bilateral or partnership agreements. Only the other day in Parliamentís Committee on Budgetary Control it emerged that a large quantity of butter (6 750 tonnes) intended for Russia at preferential prices was illegally diverted to Poland and that the Commission records that would have provided evidence of the fraud disappeared from the Commissionís offices in Brussels (FlØchard case). 20. 6. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 170 E/51 Does the Commission not agree that it should obtain effective guarantees as to the use made of the funds provided and, above all, those funds committed but not yet paid? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (6 October 1999) The Commission is aware of the current media speculation about money laundering in Russia and growing worries about the allegations of misuse of assistance funds provided to Russia. Clearly the results of current investigations in the Community and the United States must be awaited. Community assistance is essentially grant based and is delivered through the TACIS programme. The funds involved are used to pay Community firms to provide technical expertise and advice for Russia and food aid which is being closely monitored and evaluated. They do not go directly to Russia. Moreover, at present Russia does not receive Community loans and the lending mandate of the European Investment Bank (EIB) for countries outside the Community does not extend to Russia. On the question of butter destined for Russia which was diverted to Poland, the Commission would point out that the case dates back to 1991/1992. The buyer of the butter intended for Russia was a Community trader. His customers were Polish intermediaries. It is therefore difficult to make any direct connection with the allegations on which the Honourable Memberís question is based. The Honourable Member is also invited to refer to the Commissionís statement to the Parliament during the debate on 16 September 1999. (2000/C 170 E/056) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1613/99 by Hanja Maij-Weggen (PPE-DE) to the Commission (15 September 1999) Subject: Anti-landmine campaign The previous European Commission played an active part in the campaign against landmines. What action will the new Commission take in continuing to support that campaign? Is the Commission prepared to convene another international conference in this connection, and if so when and where will such a conference be held? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (11 October 1999) In line with Council Resolution 11913/96 and Parliament Resolution A4-0149/95 the Commission intends to strengthen its contribution to international efforts for overcoming the global problem of landmines, by referring specifically to the commitments of the Ottawa Treaty. A draft regulation on action against anti- personnel landmines, accompanied by a communication to the Council and the Parliament on the same topic, will be submitted to the Parliament and the Council by the end of 1999. In this context, special emphasis is being given to intensified coordination of activities at Commission, Member State and international including support to the United Nations concerning its overall coordination role. Any major Commission activities such as the organisation of international conferences levels,