# CE2004088EN.01062201.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/622 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/622

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(2004/C 88 E/0642)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2266/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 July 2003)

Subject:   Financing of, and agreements with the EU concerning, construction in future EU Member States of camps to accommodate refugees seeking admission to the present Member States

Subject:

| 1. | Who is paying for the connection to electricity and water supplies and to drains of 13 huts on the former army base in the village of Trstenik near the town of Dugo Selo, 50 km from the Croatian capital, Zagreb? Is the money coming from the European Union, the United Kingdom or both jointly? |
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1.

Who is paying for the connection to electricity and water supplies and to drains of 13 huts on the former army base in the village of Trstenik near the town of Dugo Selo, 50 km from the Croatian capital, Zagreb? Is the money coming from the European Union, the United Kingdom or both jointly?

| 2. | Was EU funding made available for such projects even before 20 June 2003 or will it be made available after the Commission report on financial and legislative consequences in 2004? |
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2.

Was EU funding made available for such projects even before 20 June 2003 or will it be made available after the Commission report on financial and legislative consequences in 2004?

| 3. | Will the intended use of the camp in Trstenik remain confined to temporarily housing 800 asylum-seekers who wish to settle in Britain, and will all of them be people from the Balkan States who are transported there after making themselves known to the authorities at ports or airports in the United Kingdom? |
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3.

Will the intended use of the camp in Trstenik remain confined to temporarily housing 800 asylum-seekers who wish to settle in Britain, and will all of them be people from the Balkan States who are transported there after making themselves known to the authorities at ports or airports in the United Kingdom?

| 4. | Who reached agreement with the Croatian Government concerning this use of the site and on bringing in refugees? Was this done on behalf of the United Kingdom or on behalf of any of the European Union institutions? When was this agreement reached? |
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4.

Who reached agreement with the Croatian Government concerning this use of the site and on bringing in refugees? Was this done on behalf of the United Kingdom or on behalf of any of the European Union institutions? When was this agreement reached?

| 5. | Do similar agreements also exist between the EU or its individual Member States concerning the construction of similar refugee camps in Russia, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Albania? |
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5.

Do similar agreements also exist between the EU or its individual Member States concerning the construction of similar refugee camps in Russia, Belarus, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Albania?

| 6. | What will happen to such camps and their residents when Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia accede to the EU? Will they then be removed from EU territory? |
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6.

What will happen to such camps and their residents when Romania, Bulgaria and Croatia accede to the EU? Will they then be removed from EU territory?

| 7. | Why were such agreements not made public before 20 June 2003? |
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7.

Why were such agreements not made public before 20 June 2003?

| 8. | In order to implement these agreements, do the Council of Europe's European Human Rights Convention and the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees need to be amended? |
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8.

In order to implement these agreements, do the Council of Europe's European Human Rights Convention and the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees need to be amended?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 September 2003)

(22 September 2003)

| 1. | This written question refers to a project ‘Reform of Asylum’, financed from the CARDS 2001 programme for Croatia, which aims at strengthening the administrative capacity of the Croatian institutions, mainly within the Interior Ministry, responsible for asylum issues. It should lead to an improvement of the refugee status determination procedures and the quality of decisions reaching international standards. The first component of this project is a twinning programme for capacity and institutional building in the field of asylum.
  The second component of the project referred to, addresses Croatia's need for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers, which should facilitate the processing of asylum applications by providing suitable accommodation. The total budget for the refurbishment of the site identified for this purpose is EUR 700 000 (works). Another EUR 300 000 is foreseen for the procurement of training equipment and equipment for the documentation and resource centre (supply). The procurement of these parts of the project is under preparation.
  The 1st step of getting the complex ‘Trstenik’ into use, for the needs of an accommodation centre for asylum seekers, includes interventions at the following parts of the complex:






  — | Fence of the complex, including the inner fence, which will separate the 1 st step from the future 2nd step; |
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1.

This written question refers to a project ‘Reform of Asylum’, financed from the CARDS 2001 programme for Croatia, which aims at strengthening the administrative capacity of the Croatian institutions, mainly within the Interior Ministry, responsible for asylum issues. It should lead to an improvement of the refugee status determination procedures and the quality of decisions reaching international standards. The first component of this project is a twinning programme for capacity and institutional building in the field of asylum.

The second component of the project referred to, addresses Croatia's need for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers, which should facilitate the processing of asylum applications by providing suitable accommodation. The total budget for the refurbishment of the site identified for this purpose is EUR 700 000 (works). Another EUR 300 000 is foreseen for the procurement of training equipment and equipment for the documentation and resource centre (supply). The procurement of these parts of the project is under preparation.

The 1st step of getting the complex ‘Trstenik’ into use, for the needs of an accommodation centre for asylum seekers, includes interventions at the following parts of the complex:

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Fence of the complex, including the inner fence, which will separate the 1 st step from the future 2nd step;

| — | outside lighting; |
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outside lighting;

| — | decoration of 4 buildings (from the total number of 8 buildings) for administrative, medical and accommodation usage, including the equipment; |
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decoration of 4 buildings (from the total number of 8 buildings) for administrative, medical and accommodation usage, including the equipment;

| — | restaurant and kitchen; |
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restaurant and kitchen;

| — | boiler house; |
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boiler house;

| — | access road; |
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access road;

| — | infrastructure decoration of the 1st step (outside water supply system, sewage system including the new bio regenerator, outside heating pipe, outside distribution of electricity including transformer station, outside telephone installation, etc.) with the preparation of installation connection for the 2nd step. For some period of time the complex has not been in function for usage. |
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infrastructure decoration of the 1st step (outside water supply system, sewage system including the new bio regenerator, outside heating pipe, outside distribution of electricity including transformer station, outside telephone installation, etc.) with the preparation of installation connection for the 2nd step. For some period of time the complex has not been in function for usage.

The total of the net surface of the buildings for adaptation in the 1st step of getting the complex ‘Trstenik’ into use for the needs of accommodation centre for asylum seekers is 2 500 square meters (m2).

2

Location Trstenik' is situated beside the existing gravel pit between Otok Nartski and Novaki Nartski, 35 kilometers (km) from the centre of Zagreb in south-east direction.

Only Community funds are involved and no co-financing of any kind is included. There is no link of the project to any bilateral initiatives from the United Kingdom.

It might be of interest to note that the Croatian Parliament adopted the Asylum Law on 12 June 2003. The actual implementation of the law has been postponed until 1 July 2004, until the reception centre for asylum seekers is operational. However, there should be no link between the enforcement of the law and the functioning of the reception centre.

| 2. | The Community funding is covered by CARDS programme 2001. No follow-up to this works project is foreseen but there shall be further support to the implementation to the newly adopted Asylum Law. |
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2.

The Community funding is covered by CARDS programme 2001. No follow-up to this works project is foreseen but there shall be further support to the implementation to the newly adopted Asylum Law.

| 3. | The programme aims exclusively at improving the refugee status determination procedures and accommodation of people seeking asylum upon entering Croatian Territory as country of first entry.
  The works will allow this centre to host at the beginning a maximum of 200 persons-asylum seekers and during the second phase of the project an additional 300 persons-asylum seekers. Therefore the maximum capacity will be, at the end of the works, 500 persons. |
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3.

The programme aims exclusively at improving the refugee status determination procedures and accommodation of people seeking asylum upon entering Croatian Territory as country of first entry.

The works will allow this centre to host at the beginning a maximum of 200 persons-asylum seekers and during the second phase of the project an additional 300 persons-asylum seekers. Therefore the maximum capacity will be, at the end of the works, 500 persons.

| 4. | The decision on the location of the Centre was made by the Croatian Government on 30 January 2002. The Trstenik Dugo Selo location was given to the Ministry of Interior for the purpose of establishing an asylum centre. Previously other locations were envisaged, however, many were too far from Zagreb or were the property of Zagreb municipality or would have been too costly. In April 2003 Ministry of Interior ordered a feasibility study that confirmed Trstenik as an acceptable location. The Commission will ensure the proper design for establishing an Asylum home in Trstenik-Dugo Selo through a service contract. Then the tendering of works and supply contracts will be launched. |
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4.

The decision on the location of the Centre was made by the Croatian Government on 30 January 2002. The Trstenik Dugo Selo location was given to the Ministry of Interior for the purpose of establishing an asylum centre. Previously other locations were envisaged, however, many were too far from Zagreb or were the property of Zagreb municipality or would have been too costly. In April 2003 Ministry of Interior ordered a feasibility study that confirmed Trstenik as an acceptable location. The Commission will ensure the proper design for establishing an Asylum home in Trstenik-Dugo Selo through a service contract. Then the tendering of works and supply contracts will be launched.

| 5. | The Commission helps these countries to bring their asylum systems in line with international standards and best practice.
  Concerning Russia, Belarus and Ukraine the Tacis Regional Indicative Programmes 2002-2003 and 2004-2006, as well as the Tacis National Indicative Programmes 2004-2006 for Russia and Ukraine refer to cooperation on migration, asylum and refugee in order to improve the standards in these countries in line with international norms and best practices. The Commission cooperates closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on this issue. If appropriate, as in the case of Croatia, assistance could also be provided for the establishment of refugee/asylum seeker accommodation centres in these countries.
  Concerning Albania, the Cards programme is assisting this country with EUR 3million on asylum and migration related projects between the period of 2001-2004. The main items being training, refurbishment and renovation of reception centres.
  It is also worth mentioning that at present the Commission is negotiating a readmission agreement with Albania. Albania has already bilateral readmission agreements with several countries. The above assistance is particularly important to help Albania to comply with the obligations that the future Union/Albania readmission agreement will imply.
  As regards Romania and Bulgaria, the Commission supports those countries through PHARE assistance based upon annual programming. Implementing the ‘acquis’ in the field of asylum is one of the subjects of this assistance. |
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5.

The Commission helps these countries to bring their asylum systems in line with international standards and best practice.

Concerning Russia, Belarus and Ukraine the Tacis Regional Indicative Programmes 2002-2003 and 2004-2006, as well as the Tacis National Indicative Programmes 2004-2006 for Russia and Ukraine refer to cooperation on migration, asylum and refugee in order to improve the standards in these countries in line with international norms and best practices. The Commission cooperates closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on this issue. If appropriate, as in the case of Croatia, assistance could also be provided for the establishment of refugee/asylum seeker accommodation centres in these countries.

Concerning Albania, the Cards programme is assisting this country with EUR 3million on asylum and migration related projects between the period of 2001-2004. The main items being training, refurbishment and renovation of reception centres.

It is also worth mentioning that at present the Commission is negotiating a readmission agreement with Albania. Albania has already bilateral readmission agreements with several countries. The above assistance is particularly important to help Albania to comply with the obligations that the future Union/Albania readmission agreement will imply.

As regards Romania and Bulgaria, the Commission supports those countries through PHARE assistance based upon annual programming. Implementing the ‘acquis’ in the field of asylum is one of the subjects of this assistance.

| 6. | The enlargement process implies the adoption of the Union ‘acquis’ including in the field of asylum. The Directive on reception conditions for asylum seekers adopted in January 2003 (1) is part of this ‘acquis’. Accommodation centres are one of the possible means for Member States to accommodate asylum seekers according to this Directive. This mean is used by many current Member States. Assistance is given to Acceding Countries to develop or reform their asylum systems to ensure their compliance with the Geneva Convention. As the reception centre in Croatia will host people seeking asylum in Croatia, a future accession of Croatia or other States to the Union will not affect in principle the location of accommodation centres. |
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6.

The enlargement process implies the adoption of the Union ‘acquis’ including in the field of asylum. The Directive on reception conditions for asylum seekers adopted in January 2003 (1) is part of this ‘acquis’. Accommodation centres are one of the possible means for Member States to accommodate asylum seekers according to this Directive. This mean is used by many current Member States. Assistance is given to Acceding Countries to develop or reform their asylum systems to ensure their compliance with the Geneva Convention. As the reception centre in Croatia will host people seeking asylum in Croatia, a future accession of Croatia or other States to the Union will not affect in principle the location of accommodation centres.

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| 7. | The CARDS annual programmes have been approved by the Member States and are available on the Commission's Europa website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/cards/publications_en.htm#4). A works contract forecast for the asylum centre in Trstenik has been available on the website of the Commission Delegation in Zagreb since January 2003.
  The Tacis indicative programmes referred above are also public and can be consulted on Europa website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/ceeca/rsp/progs.htm). |
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7.

The CARDS annual programmes have been approved by the Member States and are available on the Commission's Europa website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/cards/publications_en.htm#4). A works contract forecast for the asylum centre in Trstenik has been available on the website of the Commission Delegation in Zagreb since January 2003.

The Tacis indicative programmes referred above are also public and can be consulted on Europa website (http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/ceeca/rsp/progs.htm).

| 8. | The reform of their asylum system should allow those countries to comply with the Geneva Convention and relevant international Human Rights instruments including the European Convention on Human Rights for countries which are party to this Convention. The Community cooperation programmes on asylum aim at ensuring the full compliance with the Geneva Convention. Concerning the Candidate Countries, the aim is to ensure compliance with both the 1951 Geneva Convention and the European Convention of Human Rights.
  The Honourable Member will also be aware of the ten conditions proposed by the Commission in its Communication of June 2003 (2), which need to be fulfilled in designing new Union approaches to asylum systems and in particular the need for full respect for international human rights standards.
  A complementary background document is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat. |
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8.

The reform of their asylum system should allow those countries to comply with the Geneva Convention and relevant international Human Rights instruments including the European Convention on Human Rights for countries which are party to this Convention. The Community cooperation programmes on asylum aim at ensuring the full compliance with the Geneva Convention. Concerning the Candidate Countries, the aim is to ensure compliance with both the 1951 Geneva Convention and the European Convention of Human Rights.

The Honourable Member will also be aware of the ten conditions proposed by the Commission in its Communication of June 2003 (2), which need to be fulfilled in designing new Union approaches to asylum systems and in particular the need for full respect for international human rights standards.

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A complementary background document is sent direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament's Secretariat.

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(1)  Council Directive 2003/9 EC of 27 January 2003 laying down minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers, OJ L 31, 6.2.2003.

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(2)  COM(2003) 315 final.

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