WRITTEN QUESTION E-1045/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Construction of a metro system in the metropolitan area of Oporto.
C 53 E/62 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (22 May 2000) The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Questions E-0784/00 and E-0818/00 by Mrs MiguØlez Ramos (1). (1) OJ C 46 E, 13. 2. 2001, p. 42. (2001/C 53 E/072) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1044/00 by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission (4 April 2000) Subject: Chechen refugees Recent press reports have highlighted the existence of 277 100 Chechen refugees, chiefly in Ingushetiya but also in other neighbouring republics such as North Osetiya and Dagestan, in addition to the 42 000 people housed in provisional camps in Chechnya itself, at Asinovskaia and Sernovodsk west of Grozny. What practical economic and political measures is the European Union taking as part of urgent and effective action to remedy this tragic situation? Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission (12 May 2000) Since the early stages of the present crisis, the Commission, through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), has been providing emergency assistance to the civilians displaced by the hostilities. While implementing the programme in co-operation with the United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) the Commission faced considerable operational constraints (important security problems for aid workers, etc. ). Nevertheless, the Commission managed to provide aid in a broad range of humanitarian fields (such as food, shelter, public health, water and sanitation, essential relief items). Currently the total financial allocation stands at € 7,4 million. So far, the programme has mainly focused on Ingushetia, but it has also covered Daguestan and Georgia. At present, the main operational priority is the resumption of operations in Chechnya itself, where activities had to be suspended in November 1999 due to security constraints. The Commission, in close co-ordination with other members of the interna- tional community, continues to advocate the role of humanitarian actors in this emergency in its negotiations with the Russian authorities. (2001/C 53 E/073) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1045/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (4 April 2000) Subject: Construction of a metro system in the metropolitan area of Oporto Work is about to start on the construction of a metro system in the metropolitan area of Oporto in line with a project agreed with the Commission. Proposals have since been made for the addition of new stretches of track and changes to those originally planned in response to transport problems in and around the city. 20. 2. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 53 E/63 The Commission: 1. Can it say how much Community funding has been earmarked for the current project to construct a metro system in the metropolitan area of Oporto? 2. Have additions and/or changes to the current project already been received? If so, which? Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission (25 May 2000) In 1994 an indicative amount of € 60 to 70 million was allotted to part-financing of the Oporto light metro system under the development support infrastructure programme of Portugalís Community support framework (Transport subprogramme measure 4: Congestion relief in the Lisbon and Oporto urban areas). The Commission approved the first phase of the project on 11 December 1998 and the European Regional Development Fund assistance is € 71 770 000. It has so far received no request for modification of the project. (2001/C 53 E/074) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1048/00 by Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) to the Commission (29 March 2000) Subject: Unresolved issues of ownership It is a well-known fact that the confiscation of property without compensation is always a violation of international law. The political significance of these unresolved property ownership questions cannot be resolved by a reference to Article 295 of the EC Treaty. In the context of the accession negotiations with the Republic of Slovenia, what is the Commissionís view of these hitherto unresolved issues, and is it prepared to contribute towards righting this wrong? Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission (2 May 2000) As indicated to the Honourable Member in reply to his Written Questions E-0697/00 and E-0698/00 (1), the process of property restitution in Slovenia was assessed in the light of the Copenhagen political criteria, in the opinion of the Commission on Sloveniaís application to the Union and in the subsequent yearly regular reports. The Commission follows the overall development of this ongoing process in the context of bilateral relations with Slovenia. Sources indicate that of the overall value of claims, 52 % of the total have been restituted. The accession negotiations embrace all areas of Community legislation and policy, the áacquisí, which each applicant country will have to adopt and implement fully by the time of accession to the Union. In this respect the Commission underlines that it has no legal competence to intervene directly in the process of restitution of property. This process does not fall under the áacquisí, since Article 295 (ex Article 222) of the EC Treaty states explicitly that it shall in no way prejudice the rules in the Member States governing the system of property ownership. As indicated in the answer to the Honourable Memberís Written Question P-0664/00 (2), the implementa- tion of international instruments on human rights, such as the European Convention on Human Rights, is primarily the responsibility of the relevant international organisations. (1) See page 18. (2) OJ C 26 E, 26. 1. 2001, p. 85