WRITTEN QUESTION E-1496/01

by Raimon Obiols i Germà (PSE) to the Council

(21 May 2001)

Subject: Troika visit to Algeria

During the visit to Algeria by the President of the Council of the EU, Mrs Anna Lindh, and the High Representative Mr Javier Solana, one of the subjects discussed in talks with the Algerian authorities was the situation in Western Sahara.

It is no secret that implementation of the peace process in Western Sahara, consisting in the holding of a referendum, is encountering considerable difficulties, which have led to a virtual standstill. Aware of this situation, the UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan stated, in his report to the Security Council in February 2001, that he had asked the Moroccan authorities for a set of proposals on opening political negotiations between the two sides in order to break the deadlock. This will mean the opening of a new phase and a new opportunity, in which the EU should not shirk its responsibilities or fail to exert its influence.

In this situation, is the Council aware of its capacity to influence the two sides and help to overcome an impasse which, in addition to causing great suffering to the population concerned, is threatening a resumption of violence and increasing tension in the Maghreb?

Does the Council consider that the EU should develop an active role to assist a peaceful settlement of the Western Sahara question?

In the light of the latest meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Arab Maghreb Union held recently in Algiers, and the subsequent statements by those responsible for the EU's Euro-Mediterranean policy aimed at boosting the processes of sub-regionalisation and South-South cooperation, does the Council consider that the necessary development of an open market in the Maghreb is feasible without the prior agreement of the two sides regarding the dispute over Western Sahara?

Reply

(26 November 2001)

The Western Sahara conflict is clearly bad for political and economic integration in the Arab Maghreb Union. Nonetheless, the United Nations Secretary General

considered in his latest report that substantial progress has been made towards determining whether Morocco is prepared to offer or support some devolution of authority for Western Sahara that is genuine, substantial and in keeping with international law. On this basis the United Nation Security Council prolonged the mandate for MINURSO until 30 November 2001 in order to provide more time for the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General, Mr James Baker, to consult further with the parties, either separately or at a meeting of the parties.

The Council fully supports UN efforts. The EU stands ready to offer its good services and to assist with any peaceful solution. The Presidency is in contact with Mr Baker to this end.

With regard to the humanitarian consequences of the conflict, the EU is by far the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to the Western Saharan refugees in the Tindouf camps. Financial support from ECHO amounts to 21 million in 1999/2001. In addition, 3,7 million has been committed recently to improve the food situation in the camps.

The Council welcomes the new efforts at the recent AMU Ministerial meeting to relaunch Maghreb co-operation at various levels. It noted that Algeria and Morocco agreed to deal with the Western Sahara issue in the framework of the United Nations and not as a bilateral issue.