WRITTEN QUESTION E-1617/00

by Francesco Turchi (UEN) and Mauro Nobilia (UEN) to the Commission

(29 May 2000)

Subject: Irregularities involving NGOs supplying aid to Kosovo

According to authoritative news reports, the Commission has in its possession a detailed report revealing how numerous humanitarian NGOs sprung up suddenly in Europe and Albania during the war in Kosovo and vanished without trace when the conflict ended. These organisations apparently used the cover of aid operations to smuggle urgently needed goods and products, paid for by governments and international donors, and sell them on the black market. In some cases, humanitarian aid was used as a front for arms trafficking by the KLA. The report was drawn up by the Customs Assistance Mission (CAM) in cooperation with the Albanian authorities and was funded by the Commission. The report highlights the serious irregularities affecting more than 40 % of the NGOs and cases of bodies run directly by criminal organisations, which resulted in a massive fraud to the detriment of Kosovan refugees and a decline in regular exports to Albania, which fell by more than 60 % during the period concerned.

The report is in the possession of the Commission's DG XXI, according to a statement by its Director, Mr de Graaf (letter of 23 March 2000 to Italian journalist Fausto Biloslavo), and is being held back on the grounds that it is the responsibility of the Albanian authorities. For their part, the Albanian authorities say that it is the European Community's Customs Assistance Mission which is responsible (reply from Director of Albanian Customs, Petrit Ago).

In the light of the above considerations:

1. Will the Commission make this report public?

2. Will it inform the competent bodies of the European Parliament in good time?

3. Will it say what plausible grounds there may be for holding back this report?

4. What action does it intend to take?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(7 September 2000)

1. and 3. The report mentioned by the Honourable Members was established by a joint working group of Albanian customs officials assisted by experts of the Customs assistance mission in Albania (CAM-A), a programme which is financed by the Community. The joint working group was formed at the formal request of the Albanian Minister of finance with the purpose of carrying out the study. The report was delivered to Mr Ago, the Albanian Director general of Customs, on 29 February 2000. The report is the property of the Albanian authorities, and as such it is a matter for them to decide whether it should be made available. The Commission has received a copy of the report and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is aware of it.

2. As the Honourable Members are aware, the Commission and the Parliament have concluded an inter-institutional agreement establishing rules on the transmission of documents between the two institutions. The Commission is seeking the approval of the Albanian Government to deliver the report. The Commission will keep the Honourable Members informed of any developments in this sense.

4. The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to the reply given to Written Question E-1367/00 by Mrs Muscardini(1).

(1) OJ C 81 E, 13.3.2001.