WRITTEN QUESTION E-0757/98

by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission

(18 March 1998)

Subject: Delays to the construction project at the Svyetogorsk border crossing

Russia's most important trading partner is the EU. The main goods route between the two runs across their only common border, that between Finland and Russia. There has been an explosive growth in border traffic recently. One reason for the kilometre-long queues of lorries is the very poor conditions on the Russian side of the border crossing points.

The Svyetogorsk border crossing has been proposed as a TACIS project since 1996, when the "CBC" funds were included in the EU budget. In December 1996 the Commission received a clarification setting out the order of priority of the projects relating to Russian border crossings: 14 crossing points, 12 of which were on the border with Finland. On that basis the Commission did in fact take a decision whereby some of the 1996 appropriations would be earmarked for the improvement of Svyetogorsk and the other border crossing points. (The project is entitled: "Border Crossing Study Phase 2 of the Borders between EU/CEEC and NIS").

However, no improvement work of any kind has yet begun at the border crossings, even though the funds have been committed. The serious problems hampering goods traffic are still in place.

In the light of the above, when will the Commission take a comprehensive decision on the funding of the Svyetogorsk border crossing and the beginning of the building project?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(24 April 1998)

Svetagorsk is one of four crossings which have been selected for financing under Tacis cross border co-operation (CBC), at the Russian-Finnish border, two of which (Svetagorsk and Salla) involve substantial investments in infrastructure.

The aim of the Tacis border crossing programme is to improve efficiency at the border crossings, so that traffic can flow more quickly, and that queues can be avoided, without decreasing the effectiveness of the control instances. This can not be solved only by the construction of buildings, but also requires wide-ranging changes in administrative procedures, which in turn have implications for training of staff. Several issues of principle are involved, which require the agreement of the Russian authorities:

- acceptance for Svetagorsk and Salla that, on completion of works to be financed from the CBC 1996 and 1998 programmes, the crossings be opened to international traffic;

- acceptance that the priorities in developing the frontier points should be trade facilitation and efficient revenue collection;

- agreement that the scale of works should relate to modern risk analysis methods of working, especially for customs and border guards, so that queues are not shifted to off-road parking areas, but are processed quickly;

- involvement of all government partners which are concerned at a border crossing, which include for Russia eight ministries (foreign affairs, interior, transport, agriculture (two departments - veterinary and phytosanitary), border guards, customs, security, and the federal migration service) as well as the private sector (customs agents, banks);

- legal issues such as building standards to be applied, responsibility and ownership of buildings during construction, and border crossing legislation.

Feasibility studies were presented to the Russian government in January 1998 for agreement, and discussions on the recommendations took place in February 1998. At that time the Russian authorities had some reserves on the Commission proposals, in that they had hoped that a much larger complex would be provided at Svetagorsk, more than doubling the costs, without treating the fundamental issue of working methodologies of the services at the frontier. These questions are currently being re-examined by the Russian authorities, with the assistance of the Commission.

In addressing the issues outlined above there has been much progress, while other activities, most notably a twinning of customs services at Vyborg and Lappeenranta, have been providing very effective support to the Russian customs committee in improving working methods. The Commission hopes that tenders for works at Svetagorsk can be launched by July 1998.