WRITTEN QUESTION E-2763/99 by Marco Cappato (TDI) to the Commission. EU lump-sum contribution to the UNDCP.
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 3. 10. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 280 E/125 any UNDCP alternative crop development programmes in Afghanistan either prior to, or since, the emergence of the Taliban movement. í The European Union supports the UNDCP, however, through an annual lump-sum contribution entered against the budget line North-south cooperation schemes in the context of the campaign against drug abuseí. While the Union does not fund the UNDCP programmes in Afghanistan directly, it supports their implementation indirectly, through its lump-sum contribution. Does the Commission know how the UNDCP uses that Community lump-sum funding? Since it deems direct funding of opium eradication and substitution programmes in Afghanistan inappropriate and ineffective, has the Commission asked the UNDCP not to use the Community funding that it receives annually for such programmes? Has the Commission asked the UNDCP to suspend the programmes in question? If so, when and how? If not, does it intend to do so in future? Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (1 February 2000) Although the Commission was the third largest donor to the United Nations drug control programme (UNDCP) in 1999, the Commission does not provide it with general purpose funding as suggested by the Honourable Member. The financial regulations of the Community prohibit the provision of general funds and purpose funding and restrict programmes to activities related to concrete projects. As stated in the Commissionís response to the Honourable Memberís Oral Question on this at Parliamentís November 1999 part-session (1) during the period in question the Commission did not fund any UNDCP projects for eradication of illicit cultures or alternative development in Afghanistan. the funding of activities of United Nations organisations, subject H-558/99n during question time (1) Debates of the European Parliament (November 1999). (2000/C 280 E/134) WRITTEN QUESTION E-2764/99 by Marco Cappato (TDI) to the Commission (18 January 2000) Subject: JHA cooperation programmes: reports, evaluation and rights of the defence Through the Community budget the European Union funds a range of programmes relating to cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs. The Grotius programme, in particular, which was established by Joint Action 96/636/JHA of 28 October 1996, provides for exchanges and incentives relating to research, seminars, conferences and training, and is aimed at legal practitioners (magistrates, lawyers, notaries, etc. ). What specific projects has the Commission financed? In addition, does the Commission have an analytical description of the projects and an evaluation of the initiatives funded and of the documents and studies produced? Finally, which projects have been financed with the aim of exploring the issue of the rights of the defence in a European area of justice in which, as is envisaged by the Council agreement on mutual assistance in judicial matters, there will be closer judicial cooperation in criminal matters? Answer given by Mr Vitorino on behalf of the Commission (17 February 2000) The Commission has run the Grotius programme since 1996 and has presented the information sought by the Honourable Member in two reports (1)