WRITTEN QUESTION P-2296/99 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Humanitarian aid for Iraq.
3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/25 Following the discussion on this item, the Council adopted the conclusions on the situation in world 3. shipbuilding, of which the following key aspects should be noted, in summary: ü the concern expressed by the Council over the critical situation the sector is facing as a result of overcapacity and very low price practices attributable to the Republic of Korea, and its request to the Commission to resume talks with that country with a view to halting such unfair competition, ü the request to industry, the Member States and the Commission to gather as much evidence as possible of such anti-competitive behaviour, in order to take appropriate action within the WTO, ü the urgent appeal to the IMF and the World Bank to monitor compliance with the conditions under which aid was given to the Republic of Korea following the economic crisis, ü the request to the Commission and the Member States to make renewed efforts in the appropriate in order to ensure the application forthwith of rules including the OECD, international guaranteeing fair competition. fora, Finally, at the close of those conclusions, the Council welcomed the determination of the Commission to fulfil its obligations under Article 12 of the abovementioned Regulation No 1540/98 (3) and to report on developments as soon as necessary. The Council intends to include the item on the agenda for its Industryí meeting on 18 May 2000. (1) OJ L 202, 18. 7. 1998, pp. 1 to 10. (2) OJ L 148, 6. 6. 1997, pp. 1 to 3. (3) Article 12: The Commission shall present to the Council a regular report on the market situation and appraise whether European yards are affected by anti-competitive practices. If it is established that industry is being caused injury by anti-competitive practices of any kind, the Commission shall, where appropriate, propose to the Council measures to address the problem. The first report shall be presented to the Council no later than 31 December 1999í. (2000/C 280 E/024) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2296/99 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Council (30 November 1999) Subject: Humanitarian aid for Iraq According to the Financial Times, the USA and the United Kingdom are applying pressure on the UN Secretary-General to replace the present humanitarian aid coordinator, Mr von Sponeck, because he dared publicise the devastating results of the sanctions which have been applied against the population of Iraq for the last nine years. Given that the previous UN envoy to Baghdad was removed for exactly the same reasons and that according to current estimates 5 000 children are dying every day due to a shortage of basic medicines, will the Council say whether it intends to take initiatives with a view to ensuring that the provision of humanitarian aid to Iraq is no longer conditional upon its meeting the demand for complete disarmament? Does it agree that the position taken by the United States and the United Kingdom vis-à-vis Iraq shows the contempt with which the governments of these countries view the UN, which has become an organisation without substance which is unable to get its instructions obeyed? Reply (13 March 2000) The Council notes that the UN Secretary-General recently extended for another six months the mandate of the UN humanitarian aid coordinator. C 280 E/26 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 3. 10. 2000 The EU fully implements all existing UN Security Council resolutions pertaining to Iraq, including those relating to the oil-for-food programme. It has urged Iraq to co-operate fully with the UN. The Council notes that Security Council Resolution 1284, adopted on 17 December 1999, aims to expand and improve the oil-for-food programme. The Council does not share the views expressed in the last sentence of the Honourable Memberís question. (2000/C 280 E/025) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2307/99 by Lone Dybkjær (ELDR) to the Commission (13 December 1999) Subject: UN Convention to Combat Desertification The following questions are tabled with a view to securing clarification of the positions taken by the Commission in implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD). In which developing countries does the European Union take part in funding the implementation of 1. national action plans to combat desertification? How much money is spent, what is the money used for, and who is the recipient? How does the established financial cooperation ensure the continuity of action programmes and allow for necessary long-term planning? 2. What has the European Union done to encourage the mobilisation of funding from the private sector and other non-governmental sources and to promote and facilitate access by the developing countries affected to appropriate technology, knowledge and know-how, pursuant to Article 6 of the CCD? 3. What has the European Union done to ensure that its trade policy and tariff structures do not lead to desertification, e. g. by promoting monocultures? 4. What has the European Union done to ensure that desertification, e. g. through export subsidies that make traditional agriculture in arid areas unprofitable? its agriculture policy does not lead to 5. What does the European Commission Union done to ensure the speedy and comprehensive implementation of the CCD in the next few years? 6. What has the European Union done to ensure appropriate involvement of European stakeholders in the implementation of CCD? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (27 January 2000) 1. The Community is at the moment not funding the implementation of national action plans to combat desertification in any country since only a few countries have actually drawn up a plan. However, it has funded and has continued to fund a variety of programmes and projects against drought and land degradation in the developing countries, in particular in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. It is not possible to quantify the amount being spent, because of the cross-cutting nature of the subject. However, a report (1), which is currently being revised, provides details of the anti-desertification measures funded by the Community in the developing countries and in the Community over the period 1990-1995. By providing a financial envelope to each ACP state for the funding of its national indicative programme over a five year period under the LomØ Convention, the Community provides predictability for action programmes, allowing for long-term planning for ACP countries. 2. The Community has a general policy of promoting the private sector in the developing countries and facilitating the access of these countries to appropriate technology, knowledge and know-how. Indeed, it