WRITTEN QUESTION E-1089/00 by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Further questions on the promise of financial aid to Kosovo.
20. 3. 2001 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 89 E/9 (2001/C 89 E/007) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1080/00 by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission (7 April 2000) Subject: Cigarette smuggling in European ports 1. Is the Commission aware of the successful use of the new container scanner in the port of Rotterdam, resulting last year in the discovery of many million contraband cigarettes along with other smuggled goods, including drugs and alcohol? 2. Is the Commission prepared to encourage use of similar methods in other ports in the EU in order to counteract smuggling in cigarettes and other goods, and also to prevent ships going to ports where there are less effective checks? 3. What action can the Commission take in this respect? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (19 May 2000) The Commission is aware of the success of the new container scanner in Rotterdam, as well as scanners used in other Member States, and is working with Member States on a number of projects to improve customs controls. Such work promotes not only the use of modern equipment such as container scanners but also overall improvements in customs activities. One area of particular importance, and where an action plan is in the process of being implemented, relates to the use of risk analysis to ensure that containers selected for examination are those of greatest interest. Ongoing work also aims at increasing co-operation between major ports in order to ensure customs treatment is equivalent and, most particularly, to prevent traffic being diverted to avoid controls. One pilot project, in which the customs authorities of Rotterdam are heavily involved, will focus on the exchange of expertise between major ports on the use of container scanners and on the rapid exchange of information relating to main risk analysis areas. The results of these actions, which are financed under the Customs 2002 (1) modernisation programme, will be examined with Member Statesí customs administrations. The Commission will report on their outcome to Parliament in accordance with the terms of the Customs 2002 Decision. (1) Decision No 105/2000/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 1999 amending Decision No 210/ 97/EC adopting an action programme for customs in the Community (Customs 2000) and repealing Council Decision 91/341/EEC (OJ L 13, 19. 1. 2000). (2001/C 89 E/008) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1089/00 by Bartho Pronk (PPE-DE) to the Commission (7 April 2000) Subject: Further questions on the promise of financial aid to Kosovo On 13 March 2000, Commissioner Patten attempted to reply to my question P-2280/99 (1). The answers did not relate to the questions I had put. The question was not whether the Commission had drawn up estimates or proposals for making funds available for Kosovo. It was whether € 500 million had been promised on behalf of the Union. This question was not answered, despite the fact that the Treaty required the Commission to answer it. C 89 E/10 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 3. 2001 Hence the following questions: 1. Has a promise been made on behalf of the European Union to provide approximately half of the funds needed for Kosovo, amounting to some € 500 to 700 million? 2. 3. If not, how was it possible for Mrs Schreyer to claim on 9 November 1999 that this was the case? If so: (a) which representatives have made such promises? (b) on what occasion? (c) what sums have been promised? (d) were the representatives authorised to make such promises? (e) were the promises made subject to Parliamentís approval having to be obtained for the sums involved? (1) OJ C 374 E, 28. 12. 2000, p. 2. Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission (15 June 2000) As already indicated in its reply to the Honourable Memberís Written Question P-2280/99 (1), following the conclusions of the European Council of Cologne (June 1999), the Commission estimated between € 500 million and € 700 million per year over three years 2000-2002, the indicative needs for the in Kosovo in the perspective of a medium term reconstruction and recovery reconstruction effort programme. This figure was indicated for the first time in its proposal for the creation of the European agency for reconstruction (2), submitted in the context of a proposal for the modification of the Obnova Regulation (Council Regulation (EC) No 851/98 of 20 April 1998 amending Regulation (EC) No 1628/96 relating to aid for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (3)). The Commissioner responsible for External relations did not make any commitment but expressed the Commissionís willingness actively to support the programme for the reconstruction of Kosovo during the second donorsí conference jointly organised by the Commission and the World Bank in November 1999. On this occasion, the Commission pledged an indicative amount of € 500 million for Community assistance. As this figure was in line with the first reading of the draft 2000 budget and was pledged on condition of its final adoption by the budgetary authorities, the Commission did not consider it necessary to have a mandate in this respect. A global amount of € 360 million for 2000 was finally agreed by the budgetary authorities on to the international donor 16 December 1999. The Commission has now confirmed this amount community as the final figure committed for Kosovo in year 2000. (1) OJ C 374 E, 28. 12. 2000, p. 2. (2) OJ C 21 E, 25. 1. 2000. (3) OJ L 122, 24. 4. 1998. (2001/C 89 E/009) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1098/00 by Christel Fiebiger (GUE/NGL) to the Council (6 April 2000) Subject: Electronic database on pigs The Council has decided to introduce an electronic database on pigs in three stages, concluding on 1 January 2003