WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3973/98 by Riitta MYLLER Border crossing projects under the Tacis programme
Date: 1999-01-04
Institutions: European Parliament, MYLLER
Subjects: EU programme, Finland, Russia, border control, cross-border cooperation, customs, international transport, invitation to tender, paramilitary force, transport infrastructure

6.11.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 320/99

(1999/C 320/132)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3973/98

by Riitta Myller (PSE) to the Commission

(4 January 1999)

Subject: Border crossing projects under the Tacis programme

In the European Union’s budget for 1996, ECU 30 million was assigned to cross-border cooperation under the
Tacis programme. Of this amount, ECU 15,5 million was budgeted for border crossing projects, consisting
mainly of construction of border crossing points and procurement of equipment for them. The most
important of the locations selected are the Salla and Svetogorsk border crossing points, both on the Finnish-
Russian border. According to the information available, it is intended that work on them should be completed
by the end of 1999. This is what Commissioner van den Broek, among others, has said. However, work on
their construction has not yet begun, nor is it known whether calls for tenders have even been sent yet.

Why are the above projects, which were already provided for in the budget for 1996, behind schedule? Have
tender documents relating to them been sent to bidders?

Answer given by Mr van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(15 February 1999)

The aim of the Tacis border crossing programme (CBC) is to improve efficiency at border crossings, so that
traffic can flow more quickly, and queues can be avoided, without decreasing the effectiveness of the controls.
This can not be solved only by the construction of buildings, but also requires wide-ranging changes in
national and local administrative procedures, which in turn have implications for training of staff.

The agreement of the partner authorities was required on several issues of principle including for Svetagorsk
and Salla that, on completion of works to be financed from the CBC 1996 and 1998 programmes, the
crossings be opened fully to international traffic; acceptance that the priorities in developing the frontier
points should be trade facilitation and efficient revenue collection; agreement that the scale of works should
relate to modern risk analysis methods of working, especially for customs and border guards, so that queues
are not shifted to off-road parking areas, but are processed quickly; and finally involvement of all working at a
border crossing, which includes for Russia eight ministries (foreign affairs, interior, transport, agriculture (two
departments 7 veterinary and phytosanitary), border guards, customs, security, and the federal migration
service) as well as the private sector (customs agents, banks).

Feasibility studies were presented in January 1998, and discussions on the recommendations took place
in February 1998. At that time, the Russian authorities placed some reserves on the Commission proposals, in
that they had hoped that a much larger complex would be provided at Svetagorsk, more than doubling the
costs, without treating the fundamental issue of working methodologies of the services at the frontier. These
questions were re-examined by the Russian authorities, with the assistance of the Commission, and all parties
have agreed to the Russian internal project statements, drawn up with the assistance of the Commission. This
process was slower than expected. Financing memoranda are now with the authorities for signature, a vital
step before work contracts can be signed.

With regard to the tendering procedures for the implementation of the programme, it is expected to contract
the programme supervision unit by the beginning of February 1999. Pre-qualification for work contracts has
taken place, and the full tender files will be sent to the pre-qualified bidders by mid-February. Contracting will
be completed in time for work to commence in June 1999.

The programme is complex and time has been necessary for all parties to learn how to accept new ideas and
co-operate effectively in this area, traditionally the reserve of national governments. This programme also is
the first where works have been contemplated in the framework of Tacis, and while there is much in common
with other co-operation programmes, there were some quite specific issues which required resolution, such as
legal frameworks relating to building standards. Nevertheless the programme is now well under way and by
the end of 1999 a substantial part of the 1996 programme should have been completed.