EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/36

(2004/C 88 E/0039)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1559/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(7 May 2003)

Subject: The situation in Somalia

Can the Commission please give its view on the current political situation in Somalia?

Can the Commission please give the latest details of both its aid and trade packages to Somalia?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(1 July 2003)

The national reconciliation process being held in Mbagathi, Kenya, under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and with Union and international community support, is entering a crucial stage. The discussions may soon lead to the adoption of a draft charter as well as an action plan for a post-conference interim period including the definition of national governance structures. However, with the country having disintegrated into clan centred fiefdoms for the past twelve years, Somalia's political future is still uncertain.

Solutions in Somalia will depend on the conjunction of several elements:

— the capacity of Somali stakeholders, including the fragmented Hawye and Darod clans, gathered around heterogeneous political poles such as the Transitional National Government (TNG) and the Somali Restoration and Reconciliation Council (SRRC) to overcome their many differences;

— the commitment of stakeholders in the region to use their political influence inside Somalia in favour of peace and reconciliation;

— an adequate monitoring by the international community of the current cessation of hostilities agreement as well as of the United Nation Security Council resolutions establishing an arms embargo for Somalia. In addition, there is agreement that any solution reached by the Somalis will require prompt financial, technical and political support from the international community.

The Union has, several times, reiterated its support to IGAD's peace initiative on Somalia and its commitment to contribute to Somalia's development. The EU's political line on Somalia is set out in the General Affairs Council conclusions on Somalia of July 2002.

The most notable absence in the Mbagathi conference is Somaliland, which unilaterally declared independence in 1991 and succeeded in establishing its own institutions and relative stability in its territory.

Community co-operation, despite the difficult situation, has been constantly present in Somalia. In December 2001, the European Union-African, Caribbean and Pacific (EU-ACP) joint Council decided on a special European Development Fund (EDF) financial allocation (EUR 199 million) to Somalia for the period 2002-2007. This financial envelope is complemented by yearly contributions from the Commission's budget, in particular humanitarian aid (EUR 6 million in 2003).

Based on the EU-ACP Council decision, a first programme (EUR 50 million) was approved by the Commission in June 2002 and is being implemented while a new rehabilitation programme (estimated EUR 75 to EUR 100 million) is being appraised and should be submitted to the Commission for approval by end 2003.

The current Community co-operation in Somalia is defined by the ‘Strategy for special aid to Somalia’ (April 2002). (1) Given the Somali context, flexibility, strict neutrality and contacts at local level have been key elements for Community intervention. Community programmes are based on the ‘peace dividend approach’ and imply multi-sectoral capacity delivery, covering the whole spectrum from humanitarian aid to relief through rehabilitation to development. Given the ‘peace dividend’ approach and the priority given to contacts at local level, most Community interventions are implemented by European non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and United Nations (UN) Agencies.

Given the prevailing circumstances, trade flows between Somalia and the Union are practically nonexistent.

(1) http://europa.eu.int/comm/development/body/csp_rsp/csp_en.cfm