# CE2004070EN.01002301.xml

| 20.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 70/23 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |

20.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 70/23

---

(2004/C 70 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3766/02

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(23 December 2002)

Subject:   Avoiding irritations and delays during controls of traffic in transit between Russia and Kaliningrad via future EU territory

Subject:

| 1. | Does the Commission realise that, in 2001, 960 000 people travelled by train via future EU territory, Lithuania, between the separate Baltic province (oblast) of Kaliningrad and other, non-contiguous areas of Russia, many paying the cheap ‘platzkartni’ fare, as opposed to 105 000 who went by air (which is more expensive)? |
| --- | --- |

1.

Does the Commission realise that, in 2001, 960 000 people travelled by train via future EU territory, Lithuania, between the separate Baltic province (oblast) of Kaliningrad and other, non-contiguous areas of Russia, many paying the cheap ‘platzkartni’ fare, as opposed to 105 000 who went by air (which is more expensive)?

| 2. | Can the recently introduced strict controls on train passengers by customs authorities other than Lithuania's — in the course of which mobile telephones and foreign exchange are checked and, at the border between Belarus and Lithuania, non-Russians are required to return to Minsk to buy a visa — be accounted for as preparation for future application of the transit arrangements agreed in November 2002 between the EU and the Russian Federation? |
| --- | --- |

2.

Can the recently introduced strict controls on train passengers by customs authorities other than Lithuania's — in the course of which mobile telephones and foreign exchange are checked and, at the border between Belarus and Lithuania, non-Russians are required to return to Minsk to buy a visa — be accounted for as preparation for future application of the transit arrangements agreed in November 2002 between the EU and the Russian Federation?

| 3. | To what extent have irritations experienced by train passengers since November 2002 been deliberately provoked in order to be able blame the EU subsequently for time-consuming controls, confiscation of property and high transit costs? |
| --- | --- |

3.

To what extent have irritations experienced by train passengers since November 2002 been deliberately provoked in order to be able blame the EU subsequently for time-consuming controls, confiscation of property and high transit costs?

| 4. | Who is going to pay for a new, high-speed, direct rail link to be built between Belarus and Kaliningrad via Lithuanian or Polish territory? Will it be part of the Trans-European Networks? When will it be ready, thus making border controls unnecessary? |
| --- | --- |

4.

Who is going to pay for a new, high-speed, direct rail link to be built between Belarus and Kaliningrad via Lithuanian or Polish territory? Will it be part of the Trans-European Networks? When will it be ready, thus making border controls unnecessary?

Source: 4 December 2002 edition of the Dutch newspaper ‘De Volkskrant’

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 2003)

(10 February 2003)

| 1. | The Commission is aware of estimates by the Russian authorities that, in 2001, the total number of crossings between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia were 960 000 by train, as compared with 620 000 by car. The Commission has not received Russian figures relating to air transit. The Commission would however note that, in the absence of a transit regime for Russian citizens, all figures should be treated with extreme care. In particular, it is not clear whether the various figures which have been publicised refer exclusively to direct transit from Kaliningrad to the rest of Russia, or whether they also include passengers engaged in small border traffic or traveling to and from Belarus. Estimates by the Lithuanian authorities, for example, of total transits by Russian citizens by all forms of land transport via Lithuania to the Kaliningrad region in 2001 were significantly lower — 500 000 to 600 000 transits. |
| --- | --- |

1.

The Commission is aware of estimates by the Russian authorities that, in 2001, the total number of crossings between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia were 960 000 by train, as compared with 620 000 by car. The Commission has not received Russian figures relating to air transit. The Commission would however note that, in the absence of a transit regime for Russian citizens, all figures should be treated with extreme care. In particular, it is not clear whether the various figures which have been publicised refer exclusively to direct transit from Kaliningrad to the rest of Russia, or whether they also include passengers engaged in small border traffic or traveling to and from Belarus. Estimates by the Lithuanian authorities, for example, of total transits by Russian citizens by all forms of land transport via Lithuania to the Kaliningrad region in 2001 were significantly lower — 500 000 to 600 000 transits.

| 2. | As a result of the accession negotiations, the new Member States have been requested to implement the Community visa ‘acquis’ by accession at the latest. No transitional periods have been granted in this area. The new Member States have actually been urged to align their visa policy well in advance of accession. Any measures undertaken by the new Member States to reorganise the traffic across their national borders should be seen in this light. The agreement reached with Russia on transit to and from Kaliningrad refers only to citizens of the Russian Federation. |
| --- | --- |

2.

As a result of the accession negotiations, the new Member States have been requested to implement the Community visa ‘acquis’ by accession at the latest. No transitional periods have been granted in this area. The new Member States have actually been urged to align their visa policy well in advance of accession. Any measures undertaken by the new Member States to reorganise the traffic across their national borders should be seen in this light. The agreement reached with Russia on transit to and from Kaliningrad refers only to citizens of the Russian Federation.

| 3. | No particular difficulties for train passengers have been reported to the Commission since November 2002. Nor does the Commission have any basis for assuming that provocations have recently been staged at the future external borders of the Union with Belarus or the Russian Federation.
  Furthermore, the Joint Statement agreed by the Union and Russia at the Summit on 11 November 2002, and the agreement on mutual travel of citizens between Lithuania and Russia of 30 December 2002, which succeeds the earlier bilateral agreement between the two countries, should ensure that in future, bureaucratic controls are kept to the minimum.
  It will now be possible for Lithuania and Russia, with the participation of the Union, to ensure that transit of people between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia takes place as smoothly as possible while respecting Lithuania's sovereignty and the obligations Lithuania has agreed to take on under the Community's acquis. Thus, direct rail passengers will gradually be required to obtain additional travel documentation from 1 January 2003. In addition to the possibility of obtaining a national Lithuanian visa there will from 1 July 2003, be the option of a ‘Facilitated Rail Transit Document’ which passengers may request on reserving a ticket and which will be issued by the Lithuanian authorities. |
| --- | --- |

3.

No particular difficulties for train passengers have been reported to the Commission since November 2002. Nor does the Commission have any basis for assuming that provocations have recently been staged at the future external borders of the Union with Belarus or the Russian Federation.

Furthermore, the Joint Statement agreed by the Union and Russia at the Summit on 11 November 2002, and the agreement on mutual travel of citizens between Lithuania and Russia of 30 December 2002, which succeeds the earlier bilateral agreement between the two countries, should ensure that in future, bureaucratic controls are kept to the minimum.

It will now be possible for Lithuania and Russia, with the participation of the Union, to ensure that transit of people between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia takes place as smoothly as possible while respecting Lithuania's sovereignty and the obligations Lithuania has agreed to take on under the Community's acquis. Thus, direct rail passengers will gradually be required to obtain additional travel documentation from 1 January 2003. In addition to the possibility of obtaining a national Lithuanian visa there will from 1 July 2003, be the option of a ‘Facilitated Rail Transit Document’ which passengers may request on reserving a ticket and which will be issued by the Lithuanian authorities.

| 4. | The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) conclusions of 30 September 2002 and 22 October 2002, confirmed by the Brussels European Council on 30 October 2002, state that, while the Union should explore, in full cooperation with the Republic of Lithuania, the feasibility of visa-free travel by non-stop trains for Russian citizens travelling between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia, any eventual decision on such a scheme: ‘could only be taken by an enlarged Union, on the basis of a thorough evaluation of the political and legal aspects and once the technical obstacles have been overcome.’
  The GAERC conclusions of 22 October 2002 further agree that: A decision to launch a feasibility study in 2003 by independent consultants will be taken by the Union with the agreement of Lithuania when there is agreement with Lithuania on the Terms of Reference for the study'
  The Union/Russia Summit on 11 November 2002, therefore, agreed that the Commission would, as soon as possible after the Copenhagen European Council (12/13 December 2002), initiate the process of developing Terms of Reference for a study on visa free travel by high-speed non-trains in cooperation in Lithuania.
  In this context, it is clear that neither the technical, political nor legal feasibility of such trains has been established. The Commission has therefore made no proposal, nor the Council discussed, the prospects for Community subsidies, or designated any specific rail route connecting Kaliningrad with mainland Russia. |
| --- | --- |

4.

The General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) conclusions of 30 September 2002 and 22 October 2002, confirmed by the Brussels European Council on 30 October 2002, state that, while the Union should explore, in full cooperation with the Republic of Lithuania, the feasibility of visa-free travel by non-stop trains for Russian citizens travelling between the Kaliningrad region and the rest of Russia, any eventual decision on such a scheme: ‘could only be taken by an enlarged Union, on the basis of a thorough evaluation of the political and legal aspects and once the technical obstacles have been overcome.’

The GAERC conclusions of 22 October 2002 further agree that: A decision to launch a feasibility study in 2003 by independent consultants will be taken by the Union with the agreement of Lithuania when there is agreement with Lithuania on the Terms of Reference for the study'

The Union/Russia Summit on 11 November 2002, therefore, agreed that the Commission would, as soon as possible after the Copenhagen European Council (12/13 December 2002), initiate the process of developing Terms of Reference for a study on visa free travel by high-speed non-trains in cooperation in Lithuania.

In this context, it is clear that neither the technical, political nor legal feasibility of such trains has been established. The Commission has therefore made no proposal, nor the Council discussed, the prospects for Community subsidies, or designated any specific rail route connecting Kaliningrad with mainland Russia.

---