WRITTEN QUESTION P-0903/01

by Gunilla Carlsson (PPE-DE) to the Council

(28 March 2001)

Subject: Reception given to President Mugabe of Zimbabwe

Robert Mugabe's violations of human rights have been well documented. We have all seen and heard the reports in the mass media of murders of farmers and opposition politicians. There are no grounds for regarding Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe as a democracy as the opposition is not allowed to operate freely and the rights of property have been set aside. Despite the devastating impact on the country's economy, property belonging to its white minority is being systematically expropriated. Mugabe supporters are occupying farms by force and the government is giving them a share of the land seized.

However, on his trip around Europe, the red carpet was rolled out for Robert Mugabe and he met the Belgian Prime Minister, and was received by the French President at the Elysée.

After his military intervention in the Congo Robert Mugabe is regarded by some EU Member States as a negotiating partner rather than an autocrat with no respect for human rights. Representatives of the Council and Commission also met Robert Mugabe for talks.

What is the Council's attitude towards Robert Mugabe and the situation in Zimbabwe? Does it intend to take specific action in the form of withdrawing aid in order to put pressure on the Mugabe regime, or does it intend to confine itself to talk?

Reply

(16 July 2001)

The Council considers Robert Mugabe as a legally elected president of an independent country, but already in May last year before the Parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe, it expressed deep concern at the breakdown in the rule of law in Zimbabwe, the ongoing violence, loss of life, illegal occupation of property and the continuing political intimidation in the run up to the parliamentary elections.

During his recent visit to Europe, representatives of the Presidency on its own accord participated in a lunch with the Commission and President Mugabe, but representatives of the Council did not meet with President Mugabe for talks.

The General Affairs Council on 26/27 February 2001 had an exchange of views on Zimbabwe. It agreed to take the necessary steps to propose to the government of Zimbabwe a comprehensive and balanced dialogue. The Council also agreed to come back to this issue in due course.

The holding of a political dialogue with Zimbabwe under article 8 of the Cotonou agreement in line with the Council conclusions, was proposed to Zimbabwe and is still awaiting a formal response from the authorities. Under this dialogue the EU hopes that both parties will be able to promote a stable democratic political environment in Zimbabwe and thereby also contribute to peace, security and stability in the country. The EU wishes the dialogue to be comprehensive, balanced and deep and a forum for open and forthright exchanges of views. It must also be seen as an evolving process.

EU aid to Zimbabwe does not cover budget support anymore, it does not contribute with aid to the productive sectors, it has instead been refocused on the social sectors in order to protect human capital during these difficult years for Zimbabwe. Disbursement of aid has dropped over the last three years, but the Council has not discussed any withdrawal of aid to Zimbabwe.

The EU is of course also following the behaviour of Zimbabwe in the context of the application of the Lusaka cease-fire agreement and the ongoing troop withdrawals in the DRC.