WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3556/97 by Luigi FLORIO to the Commission. EU loan to the Palestine National Authority
Date: 1997-11-04
Institutions: European Parliament, FLORIO
Subjects: Community loan, EU aid, EU control, Palestine, bank deposit, fraud, import tax, motor fuel

30. 4. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 134/171

Furthermore the Commission recalls that all Member States are parties to the 1972 convention on the prohibition
of the development, production and stockpiling of bacteriological (biological) and toxin weapons and on their
destruction. On 25 June 1996, the Council defined common position 96/408/CFSP on that subject. The aim is to
strengthen  compliance  with  the  international  non-proliferation  system  by  promoting  the  universality  of  the
convention  and  working  for  the  successful  conclusion  of  the  negotiations  on  a  legally  binding  and  effective
verification regime no later than in 1998. The Commission strongly supports that common position.

(1)  OJ C 253, 30.9.1992.
(2)  OJ L 367, 31.12.1994.

(98/C 134/233)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3526/97

by Fernando Ferna·ndez Mart(cid:14)·n (PPE) to the Commission

(12 November 1997)

Subject: Activities of the Commission group of experts in connection with the forest fires in Indonesia

According to a recent report by the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the forest fires which
are devastating large areas of Indonesia have not yet been brought under control and continue to cause significant
environmental pollution throughout the region.

Many countries and international organizations have already sent assistance to the Indonesian Government in the
form of funds, experts and material resources (fire-fighting equipment, medicine, transport, etc.).

At the end of September, the European Union decided to set up a team of experts on forest fires. This team is
working under the direction of the Commission(cid:146)s Forest Liaison Bureau, which has been active in Jakarta since
February 1997.

Can  the  Commission  provide  information  on  the  role  played  by  this  team  of  experts,  its  activities  and  the
outcome of its work?

Answer given by Mr Marin on behalf of the Commission

(9 December 1997)

The Commission is sending the information requested direct to the Honourable Member and to Parliament(cid:146)s
Secretariat.

(98/C 134/234)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3556/97

by Luigi Florio (UPE) to the Commission

(4 November 1997)

Subject: EU loan to the Palestine National Authority

The Union is about to grant a loan of ECU 25 million to the Palestine National Authority in order to make up for
funds which the Israeli Government has failed to transfer to the Arafat Government.

In April 1997 the Israeli newspaper Ha(cid:146)aretz revealed that President Arafat holds a secret account with the Leumi
Bank in Tel Aviv (Hashmonaim Street branch), in which some $150 m (approximately ECU 125 m) is deposited.
The money, the proceeds of duties on imported fuel to be supplied to the Palestinian territories, was paid by the
Israeli Government. It was consequently intended for the PNA, but President Arafat has withheld it for personal
use completely beyond the range of scrutiny.