EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 88/457

(2004/C 88 E/0469)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3253/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(3 November 2003)

Subject: Somalia: internal situation, refugees and terrorism

The deaths of various Somali refugees, mostly from Mogadishu, close to the Italian coast, due to hunger, fatigue and drowning, reminds us of the thousands of Somalis who have died since 1991 in the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. All of them were desperately fleeing a dictatorial system linked to the Islamic fundamentalism which was responsible for the deaths of lay missionary Annalena Tonelli and two British nationals working for SOS and is represented by terrorist organisations such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Islah.

Interim President Salad Hassan, whose term of office expired several months ago and who, according to the list of international terrorist organisations, is leader of Al-Islah, has left the Nairobi Conference, which was convened over a year ago, and asked for the decisions agreed to in Nairobi by representatives of the Somali state in the presence of international observers to be annulled in order to hold a new Reconciliation Conference in Mogadishu, a city which Somalis are fleeing, at the cost of their own lives.

The President of the Transitional National Government (TNG) has issued a proclamation against the Somali leaders, who denounce ‘Muslim brothers’ accused of terrorism to the Kenyans and Americans, and has called for the USD 8,5 million of the Al-Barakat financial network to be frozen, claiming that they are private funds, including his own.

In Somalia there are regular murders and executions of militiamen involved in fighting fundamentalism and terrorism. It would seem that the ‘new coalition’ in Mogadishu includes Jumale, the chairman of Al-Barakat, who was expelled from the Arab Emirates.

1. Will the Commission take vigorous diplomatic action to ensure that the Nairobi Conference is brought to a successful conclusion and that Somalia is given a federal government to take the necessary measures to hold democratic elections?

2. Will the Commission take real steps to root out terrorism and isolate those who have, in recent years, openly or indirectly accepted or protected terrorist groups linked to Al Qaeda which have been responsible for bomb attacks in Nairobi, Dar-el-Salam and Mombasa?

3. Can the Commission launch — independently or in cooperation with the United Nations — a plan of humanitarian aid for the local population?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2003)

The Commission has been actively supporting the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) peace conference held in Kenya since it started in October 2002. The Commission has provided a substantial financial contribution to the process (EUR 5,6 million) and is part of the international observer group attending the Conference.

The Commission has also participated in several Union troika missions, at different levels, aimed at drawing the attention of key international stakeholders to the Somali situation and urging them to support the IGAD peace talks.

The legal basis for the European fight against terrorism, a priority policy objective for the Union, is to be found in the so-called ‘third pillar’, namely in the provisions on police and judicial co-operation in criminal matters. In this context the Commission has tabled several proposals to facilitate police and judicial cooperation including a European arrest warrant and a common definition of terrorism. In addition the Commission, together with Member States, has been playing an active role in the combat against the funding of terrorism including the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1373/2001, freezing of assets, and 1390/2002 on the Taliban sanctions regime.

The Commission further recalls that it strictly abides by the Security Council stipulations regarding the list established under Resolutions 1267/1999 and 1333/2000 and referring to individuals and organizations belonging to, or associated with, the Taliban and Al-Qaida including in Somalia.

Despite the difficult situation in Somalia, the Commission has been continuously present in the country where it plays a central role in the donor community. EUR 25 million in disbursements are foreseen in 2003 in the full continuum ranging from humanitarian aid, to relief, rehabilitation and development. This will be sustained in the years to come with the implementation of the special aid package to Somalia which made available EUR 199 million for the period 2002-2007. In addition, the Commission will continue to mobilise funds from its own budget lines, including humanitarian aid through its Humanitarian Aid Office.