WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3192/98 by Arthur NEWENS to the Commission. Trade with the countries of the former USSR
Date: 1998-10-27
Institutions: European Parliament, NEWENS
Subjects: EU aid, EU programme, USSR, distribution of aid, extra-EU trade, humanitarian aid, technical cooperation, trading operation

21.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 142/103

(1999/C 142/126)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3191/98

by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission

(27 October 1998)

Subject: EU aid to the countries of the former USSR

Would the Commission list the total amount of aid which has been supplied to each of the states which
were formerly members of the USSR on an annual basis since the break-up of the Soviet Union and
provide a breakdown of the headings under which that aid has been supplied?

(1999/C 142/127)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3192/98

by Arthur Newens (PSE) to the Commission

(27 October 1998)

Subject: Trade with the countries of the former USSR

Would the Commission provide information to show how the pattern of trade between each of the states
which were formerly members of the USSR and the various EU Member States has developed on an
annual basis since the dissolution of the USSR?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3191/98 and E-3192/98
given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(16 December 1998)

Since 1991, the Community through the Tacis programme has been providing primarily technical
assistance to the countries of the former Soviet Union. Mongolia also became eligible for Tacis support
in 1996. The programme has been implemented on the basis of national programmes agreed with each of
the partner countries as well as an inter-state programme which has addressed trans-national issues such as
the environment. Projects have been drawn up in a number of key sectors. In 1996, the Council Regulation
governing the implementation of the Tacis programme was amended (Council Regulation (Euratom, EC)
1279/96 of 25 June 1996 concerning the provision of assistance to economic reform and recovery in the
New Independent States and Mongolia (1)) to permit inter alia, a small component of investment
financing. This is currently restricted to investment in small-scale infrastructure in the context of
border-crossings and equity investment in small and medium-sized enterprises.

In addition, the Community has responded to emergency needs in the New Independent States (NIS) and
Mongolia through the provision of humanitarian aid. Between 1993 and 1997, this aid totalled ECU 313
million. This assistance has focused primarily on three major humanitarian crises: the South Caucasus,
involving Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia: Chechnya in Russia; and Central Asia, involving Kyrgyzstan
and Tajikistan.

Reliable data on trade with the NIS is limited. In the early years following the break up of the Soviet Union
data for a number of countries was lacking. The most reliable and comprehensive data relate to trade with
Russia which represents by far the Community’s most significant trading partner in the region. For
example, in 1996, Russia accounted for 81 % of total NIS exports. Most NIS countries did a large part of
their foreign trade with other NIS countries.

The Commission is sending direct to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat of the Parliament a
breakdown of the total amount of Tacis technical assistance supplied to each of the former Soviet
republics in the period 1991-1997, a breakdown of the total Tacis assistance supplied by sector, a
breakdown of humanitarian aid allocations per country 1991-1997, a breakdown of humanitarian aid
allocations per sector 1991-1997, data on trade flows between the Community and the NIS, and data on
Russia and the Community’s trade balance.

(1) OJ L 165, 4.7.1996.