WRITTEN QUESTION E-3750/00

by Ioannis Marínos (PPE-DE) to the Council

(1 December 2000)

Subject: Incorporation of the WEU within the EU

On 13 November 2000, the Defence Ministers of the Western European Union (WEU) and the Foreign Ministers of the European Union met in Marseilles with the future of the WEU as the main topic on the agenda. At this joint ministerial session the decision was taken to incorporate the WEU's activities within the EU, and this decision was ratified. As is well known, Turkey (together with other countries outside the European Union) participates in the WEU as an associate member and staff (both military and political) with Turkish nationality are involved in its activities. The same is true of Eurocontrol (the body responsible for air traffic control in Europe) in which Turkey participates as a full member and where Turks serve as senior and top-ranking administrative officials.

The EU is moving towards a decision to absorb this body and create a new service along the lines of the above body to coordinate air traffic in our continent in a more efficient and organised manner. According to reports in the European press, this service will also be given responsibility for control over Member States' F.I.R. areas which are currently reserved for defence purposes only and which are to be transferred to civil aviation.

Could the Council provide information on the future status of officials of all types with nationality of countries outside the EU working in bodies which are about to be incorporated into the EU? Could it also provide information on who will make decisions concerning the release and transfer to civil aviation of sections of European airspace which are currently used exclusively for defence purposes, on whether air traffic control will be administered by a central European authority and on the composition of this authority? In particular, will there be any possibility of staff of Turkish nationality making decisions concerning the defence of EU Member States which are officially threatened by Turkey? As an example, I draw attention to the fact that the Turkish military airforce violates the Athens F.I.R. almost daily.

Reply

(7 May 2001)

1. At the Nice European Council the EU confirmed its intention of itself assuming the crisis-management function of the WEU. It took note in this context of the measures adopted by the WEU Council of Ministers in Marseilles to enable the latter to take account of developments which have occurred in the EU.

2. The fact that appropriate functions of the WEU are to be incorporated into the EU does not mean that the WEU or its military and civilian staff will be incorporated. The Council is therefore unable to provide information on the status of officials who are nationals of countries outside the EU who work or will continue to work for the WEU.

3. The Western European Union is an organisation which is totally separate from the body known as Eurocontrol: the incorporation of appropriate WEU functions within the EU is therefore in no way linked to the present or future status of Eurocontrol. A proposal for the European Community to join Eurocontrol is currently being discussed within the Council, which in no way implies that Eurocontrol will be integrated into the Union.

4. The questions put by the Honorary Member relating to air traffic control problems have never been dealt with as such within the Council.