WRITTEN QUESTION E-1367/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(4 May 2000)

Subject: CAM-Albania report on humanitarian aid to Kosovo

On 1 March 2000 the CAM-Albania (Customs Assistance Mission) forwarded to the Commission's DG XXI (Customs and Excise Service) a detailed report on humanitarian aid shipped via Albania to Kosovo during last year's war. The report draws attention to two types of fraud. In the first instance, goods were passed off as humanitarian aid when they were not and in the second genuine humanitarian aid was not used for its intended purpose once it had passed through customs but was distributed and sold on the black market. In both cases smuggling offences were committed.

According to reports in the Italian weekly Panorama, at least 40 % of the humanitarian NGOs listed in the report and which were operating in Albania between March and summer 1999 were guilty of serious irregularities, including the setting up of bogus organisations by organised criminal networks in order to sell goods intended for aid on the black market.

1. Is the Commission aware of this report?

2. What are its views on the matter?

3. Has it taken any steps to identify those responsible?

4. What will it do to prevent similar frauds occurring in connection with aid sent to Kosovo or other crisis areas?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 2000)

1. The Commission is aware of the report established by a joint working group of Albanian customs officials assisted by an expert of the customs assistance mission in Albania (CAM-A). The joint working group was formed at the request of the Albanian Minister of Finance with the purpose of carrying out the reported study. The report was delivered to Mr Ago, the Albanian General director of Customs, on 29 February 2000. The Commission has received a copy of the report for information. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is also aware of the report.

2. The report reveals the difficulties encountered by the Albanian authorities in their efforts to control the movement of consignments of humanitarian aid during the Kosovo crisis in 1999. The crisis led to a dramatic increase of consignments of aid and of people entering Albania. Some of the aid had a final destination in Kosovo. The report reveals that 29 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had not complied fully with the procedures for the delivery of the consignments of goods free of duty as humanitarian aid.

3. It is the responsibility of the Albanian authorities to undertake all the necessary measures to fight such failures to comply, some of which were apparently fraudulent and require investigation. However the Commission, realising the difficulties of the task facing the Albanians, who themselves were not without their own difficulties, agreed to assist the Albanian customs service through the CAM-A programme, which is financed by the Community. The overall aim of the programme is to assist the Albanian authorities to develop a modern and effective customs service. The aim of the report was to make the Albanian authorities aware of what had taken place during the period when aid was being delivered and to recommend corrective measures that should be taken in the future to overcome shortcomings in their procedures. In May 2000, CAM-A experts informed the Commission that the Albanian authorities were in the process of implementing the recommended changes. The Commission will examine in the light of the outcome of ongoing investigations, if conclusions have to be drawn.

4. One of the objectives of the technical assistance delivered by the Commission in the crisis areas is in fact to develop and propose procedures to local administrations in order that they can prevent the fraudulent use of both humanitarian aid shipments and humanitarian aid status.

In Kosovo, the customs assistance mission in Kosovo (CAM-K) is assisting the customs service of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo to develop administrative and control procedures (notably specific forms) for dealing with aid arriving across their international borders and administrative boundary line.

As regards Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Customs and fiscal assistance office (CAFAO) has given advice to the Stabilisation force (SFOR) in order to revise the existing procedures for controlling the consignments destined to them.