WRITTEN QUESTION E-2914/98

by Riitta Myller (PSE) to the Commission

(2 October 1998)

Subject: Shortage of food and medicines in Russia

The political and economic crisis in Russia has led to a shortage of food and medicines in many areas. It is illustrative of the seriousness of the situation that requests for aid have been sent to the Finnish authorities from areas bordering on the EU, such as Karelia and Murmansk. According to information which has reached the Finnish cities of Imatra and Lappeenranta, the worst difficulties are being experienced by hospitals, children's homes and institutes for the disabled. The position of pensioners is also difficult. In Finland a number of national organisations, and the charity Church Foreign Aid (Kirkon Ulkomaanapu), have sent food aid to Russian Karelia.

Creating political and economic stability in Russia is a vital objective for the European Union too. Decent social conditions are clearly one basic requirement for bringing about political stability. The EU must be prepared to send humanitarian aid, which must include support to enable transport systems to function properly. The Russian authorities must be required to take measures so that transport can flow freely, such as reducing the customs bureaucracy faced by aid consignments.

In April 1997 the European Parliament adopted joint resolution B4-0299/97, in which it stated that the European Union has a moral obligation to give support to the people in its bordering regions during a profound economic and social crisis. In that resolution Parliament urged the Commission and the Council to launch a programme of immediate and direct humanitarian aid to the population in the regions of Karelia and Murmansk. What measures has the Commission taken as a result of this resolution, and what does it intend to do to relieve the situation in the areas of Russia suffering from food and medicine shortages?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(10 December 1998)

The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member about the problems faced by the Russian population in the context of the current political and economic crisis.

Taking into account the dialogue between the Commission and the Parliament and, in particular, Parliament's Resolution B4-0299/97, the Commission carried out an evaluation mission to Karelia in July 1997. This confirmed that - as in the whole Russian Federation - poverty has become a serious issue. However, available data (the reliability of which is not always in line with Western standards) indicate that the population of Karelia is still better off than the average Russian population.

The Commission is currently funding two operations in the region (humanitarian assistance and capacity building for local disaster preparedness structures) with the Finnish Red Cross and Finn Church Aid as implementing partners. Further developments in the region are followed with close attention.

On the issue of food aid to Russia, the Honourable Member's attention is drawn to the Commission's working document of 20 November 1998(1) transmitted to the Parliament and the Council which lays out details and conditions for such aid.

(1) SEC(98) 1990.