WRITTEN QUESTION E-1991/02

by Michael Gahler (PPE-DE), Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE),Neil Parish (PPE-DE), Lennart Sacrédeus (PPE-DE)and Charles Tannock (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(8 July 2002)

Subject: The implementation of smart sanctions against selected members of the Mugabe regime

Can the Commission clarify the precise extent of the asset ban and the travel freeze imposed on associates of President Mugabe and their families by the European Union in February of this year? Do the sanctions prevent family members of the listed associates from visiting the European Union or pursuing courses of study at educational institutions within the European Union?

There are reports that the Zimbabwean Commissioner of Police attended an Interpol summit in Lyons. Are those reports accurate and, if so, was the visit allowed to take place because of a prior international treaty commitment on the part of the French government or was there a discretionary element in the French government's decision?

There were also reports that two Zimbabwe government ministers entered the United Kingdom early in May. Are those reports correct, and, if so, were those visits consistent with the sanctions? Does the Commission have knowledge of any breaches of the sanctions on the part of any Member State?

Finally, has the Commission discussed with the South African government the full implications for Southern Africa of any further deterioration of the Zimbabwean economy and the likely consequences for South Africa itself if it fails to apply pressure on Robert Mugabe to give up power and allow a new government to end the destructive economic and social policies currently pursued by his regime?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 August 2002)

According to Council Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 of 18 February 2002 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe(1) all funds, other financial assets or economic resources belonging to individual members of the Government of Zimbabwe and to any natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them as listed in Annex I (of the regulation), shall be frozen. Annex 1 as revised by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1345/2002 of 24 July 2002(2) only contains names of specific members of the Government of Zimbabwe and certain officials as well as the spouse of Robert Mugabe. Funds, other financial assets or economic resources belonging spouses and children of other persons on the list are not affected by the Regulation.

The visa ban is laid down in the Council Common Position 2002/145/CFSP of 18 February 2002 concerning restrictive measures against Zimbabwe as amended by Council Common Position 2002/600/CFSP(3), and is therefore implemented by the Member States.

Through various demarches and in particular through the Union high level troika to South Africa of 21 May 2002, the Union has discussed the full implications for Southern Africa of the present instability and of a further deterioration of the Zimbabwean economy in terms of disinvestment, refugee flows, and other consequences. The Union has reiterated its willingness to support the inter-party dialogue promoted by South Africa and Nigeria, to support the population and an orderly land reform process, as illustrated in the final conclusions of the June 2002 General Affairs Council.

(1) OJ L 50, 21.2.2002.

(2) Commission Regulation (EC) No 1345/2002 of 24 July 2002 amending for the second time Council Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 OJ L 196, 25.7.2002.

(3) OJ L 195, 24.7.2002.