WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3749/98 by Glyn FORD Independence of the Faroe Islands
Date: 1998-12-11
Institutions: European Parliament, FORD
Subjects: Denmark, Faroes, agreement (EU), fishing agreement, international negotiations, national independence, negotiation of an agreement (EU), trade agreement (EU)

11.10.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 289/83

Reply

(29 March 1999)

With regard to the decision of 1991 on the tax-free sales for intra-community travellers, the Vienna European
Council asked the Commission and the Council (ECOFIN) to examine by March 1999 the problems which
could arise with regard to employment and to address on the basis of proposals from the Commission possible
means of tackling these problems,
including the possibility of a limited extension of the transitional
arrangements.

(1999/C 289/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3749/98

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(11 December 1998)

Subject: Independence of the Faroe Islands

What arrangements and treaties would have to be renegotiated between the Faroe Islands and the EU if
Denmark were to grant the Islands independence? How long would this take?

Answer given by Mr Santer on behalf of the Commission

(10 February 1999)

Relationships between the Community and the Faroe Islands are, at present, set out in two basic agreements;
one on fisheries (Council Regulation (EEC) 2211/80 of 27 June 1980 on the conclusion of the Agreement on
fisheries between the European Economic Community and the Government of Denmark and the Home
Government of the Faroe Islands (1)), the other on trade (Council Decision of 6 December 1996 concerning the
conclusion of an agreement between the Community, of the one part, and the Government of Denmark and
the Home Government of the Faroe Islands, of the other part (2)). The issues involved in any renegotiation of
these agreements would need to be adressed if and when the question of independence for the Faroe Islands
came to the fore.

(1) OJ L 226, 29.8.1980.
(2) OJ L 53, 22.2.1997.

(1999/C 289/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3771/98

by Olivier Dupuis (ARE) to the Council

(4 December 1998)

Subject: Situation in Angola

In view of recent developments in the situation in Angola, and especially the blocking of the peace process =
and the commitments arising from it = by President Dos Santos’s party, the government’s refusal to permit the
UN Secretary-General’s representative to move freely in the regions controlled by UNITA, the severe
restrictions and pressure imposed on members of UNITA who have settled in Luanda under the Lusaka
Protocol agreements and with a guarantee from the international community, what measures has the Council
taken, or does it intend to take, to enable the peace process in Angola to be resumed and to ensure the
protection and well-being of UNITA members who are now hostages of the peace process?

More generally, does the Council not consider it necessary to organise an international conference on the
current serious crisis in Africa, which might be designated the ‘first African world war’, to be attended by
representatives of all the warring factions in this part of Africa and to enable an end to be put to the UN
Security Council’s partial and often biased crisis management, its aim too often being to favour the particular
interests of one country rather than finding a genuine solution to local problems?