WRITTEN QUESTION P-2102/99 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council. European Community Mission Monitors.
18. 7. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 203 E/137 Has Germany made sure that the exported equipment cannot be diverted to an end-use that is 5. incompatible with the Code of Conduct? If so, what assurances are there? Did the Council consider such assurances to be adequate? If so, why? 6. Would the Council allow further major deliveries to Turkey of components thereof? If so, on what grounds? the Leopard 2 A5 tank or Answer (24 January 2000) The European Unionís position on arms exports is reflected in the Code of Conduct on Arms Exports adopted on 8 June 1998. Decisions are taken by each Member State individually taking full account of the Code of Conduct. The Council does not receive any information about the grounds on which export licences are granted or refused by Member States. In any case it does not lie in its purview to exercise any judgement on them. (2000/C 203 E/174) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2102/99 by John Cushnahan (PPE-DE) to the Council (15 November 1999) Subject: European Community Mission Monitors How many European Community Mission Monitors (ECMM) are currently employed and in which country do they operate? What are the annual costs involved and, if any of the monitors is not an EU national, from which country do they come? What is the purpose of the EC Monitor system and how does it differ from the reporting procedures and information available to EU ambassadors in those countries? Answer (24 January 2000) 1. According to the most current personnel figures, the European Community Monitor Mission (ECMM) is composed of 259 internationals and 174 locally employed persons. The two non-EU ECMM members present in the mission are Norway and Slovakia. The ECMMís area of operation covers the Western Balkans region, i. e. Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FRY/Montenegro, FRY/Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania. 2. The current annual common costs for ECMM are about DM 16 million for 1999 which are funded by participating States according to a standard contributionsí key. In addition, contributing countries pay the direct cost of the personnel they send. 3. ECMM is unique in its regional approach, as its area of responsibility covers the whole of the former Yugoslavia minus Slovenia, plus Albania. This provides ECMM with a comparative advantage as they have a regional overview which embassies in an individual country do not possess. C 203 E/138 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 18. 7. 2000 The objectives of ECMM are, inter alia: ü to provide reliable information from observation on the ground which can serve as a basis for policy and decision making for the EU. This information is available in all member States (also those who do not have embassies in all countries concerned) and Commission. ü planned and complementary co-operation with relevant international organisations, avoiding unneces- sary duplication in operations, taking into account the Stability Pact for SEE and the forthcoming EU Common Strategy for Western Balkans. ü early warning in the event of conflict or unrest in the region. ü to contribute to the establishment of an environment of confidence and security. ü fulfil special temporary tasking (e. g. border monitoring, embargo monitoring) as necessary. ü give visibility to the EUís strong interest in developments in the region. (2000/C 203 E/175) WRITTEN QUESTION P-2104/99 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission (12 November 1999) Subject: Internet news service On the occasion of the Austrian parliamentary elections, the following commentary appeared on the Commissionís Internet news service: Haiderís second position in elections confirmed, Austrian far right ahead of The Commission thus appears to have joined the chorus of international press reaction following the Austrian parliamentary elections. The following questions are asked in relation to the value judgments implicit in the above commentary: 1. Who has access to the above news service? 2. How does the Commission define the Austrian far rightí? 3. How does the Commission arrive at the conclusion that Dr Jörg Haider or the FPÖ (Austrian Freedom Party) are on the áfar rightí? Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission (12 January 2000) The comments to which the Honourable Member refers were supplied by press agencies and do not necessarily reflect the Commissionís views. The specific questions raised beg the following remarks: 1. The Commissionís Europaplusí intranet is accessible to all Commission staff. 2. and 3. It is not for the Commission to define the term to which the Honourable Member refers