WRITTEN QUESTION E-2682/98

by Gerhard Hager (NI) to the Commission

(1 September 1998)

Subject: Threatened flood of refugees from Kosovo

It appears increasingly unlikely that a diplomatic solution can be found in Kosovo. Europe is consequently threatened with a flood of refugees on a comparable scale to the influx from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Appropriate advance planning would do much to simplify the situation in the event of a crisis.

1 Has the Commission already discussed this problem and worked out ways of proceeding that would enable it to act instead of just reacting after the event?

2. If so, what form are the preparations taking?

3. If not, does it plan to make the necessary preparations in the near future?

4. The Council Presidency has announced that an action plan will be published in autumn 1998 to deal with the influx of immigrants from Iraq and neighbouring regions. Does the Commission have any information about the state of progress as regards that plan and the specific arrangements to be laid down?

Answer given by Mrs Gradin on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 1998)

A diplomatic solution is the only possible solution to the current conflict in Kosovo, and must be found. All international efforts - notably by the Contact group, in which the Commission participates - are directed towards this goal. Contacts with and between the parties are continuing, with a view to obtaining a lasting negotiated settlement but with winter approaching the first priority must now be a ceasefire, both to enable dialogue to begin and, more urgently, to enable humanitarian agencies to avert a humanitarian disaster.

Already present in Kosovo since 1993, the Commission has stepped up its activities in response to the recent escalation of the conflict. On 17 August 1998, the Commission adopted an emergency decision of ECU 5 million for humanitarian aid in favour of the victims of the conflict in Kosovo, which includes programmes in Albania as well as in Montenegro. Additional measures are under preparation. Without a cease-fire, however, the many internally displaced in Kosovo itself will suffer harsh winter conditions without any possibility for aid agencies to provide sufficient assistance.

The Commission has considered the options for co-ordinated action at Union level in the event of a mass influx of displaced persons from Kosovo. The Commission has repeatedly emphasised that, particularly in the light of the large-scale movement of people fleeing the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, the Union needs to be better equipped to deal with mass influx situations. In particular, there is a need for a greater degree of co-ordination between Member States in introducing and phasing out temporary protection regimes, and some level of approximation between national policies and practices, in order to allow for an equitable sharing of the responsibility.

In March 1997, the Commission therefore brought forward a proposal for a joint action concerning the temporary protection of displaced persons(1). The Council was unable to reach agreement on this instrument in its original form. Discussions in that forum indicated that a key issue was the mechanism for sharing responsibility between the Member States. This was also reflected in the Parliament's opinion(2). In June 1998, the Commission therefore brought forward an amended proposal for a joint action concerning temporary protection of displaced persons(3) and at the same time a new proposal for a joint action concerning solidarity in the admission and residence of displaced persons3. The Commission considers it extremely important that these two proposals are adopted rapidly by the Council.

The Commission also notes that, after the entry into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam, new Article 64(2) of the amended EC Treaty will provide a legal basis for the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, to adopt provisional measures in response to an emergency situation characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries.

Until the various instruments mentioned above are available, the mechanisms for co-ordinating action at the level of the Union in response to a mass influx of displaced persons are limited in scope. The Commission will, however, keep under review the possibility of making use of the procedure established in the Council decision of 4 March 1996 on an alert and emergency procedure for burden-sharing with regard to the admission and residence of displaced persons on a temporary basis(4). In addition, the Commission will keep under review the financial options available on the basis of the Community budget line for improving reception conditions for asylum seekers and displaced persons in the Member States(5).

The Union action plan on the influx of migrants from Iraq and the neighbouring region was adopted by the Council on 26 January 1998. Progress on implementation of the justice and home affairs points in the action plan was reviewed by the Council at its meetings on 19 March and 28-29 May 1998. Overall implementation was reviewed by the Council on 30 March 1998. The Commission understands that the Council transmitted a copy of the action plan to the Parliament for information, and that the committee on civil liberties and internal affairs has appointed Mrs Terrón i Cusí to act as rapporteur.

(1) OJ C 106, 4.4.1997.

(2) Legislative resolution embodying Parliament's opinion on the proposal to the Council for a Joint Action based on Article K.3(2)(b) of the Treaty on European Union concerning temporary protection of displaced persons, OJ C 339, 10.11.1997.

(3) OJ C 268, 27.8.1998.

(4) OJ L 63, 13.3.1996.

(5) Budget line B5-803 (policy on asylum seekers and other displaced persons).