WRITTEN QUESTION P-2296/99 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Humanitarian aid for Iraq.
Date: 1999-11-30
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Iraq, UNO, United Kingdom, United States, common foreign and security policy, disarmament, humanitarian aid, power of decision, terms for aid

3.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 280 E/25

Following the discussion on this item, the Council adopted the conclusions on the situation in world

3.
shipbuilding, of which the following key aspects should be noted, in summary:

(cid:129) the concern expressed by the Council over the critical situation the sector is facing as a result of
overcapacity and very low price practices attributable to the Republic of Korea, and its request to the
Commission to resume talks with that country with a view to halting such unfair competition,

(cid:129) the request to industry, the Member States and the Commission to gather as much evidence as
possible of such anti-competitive behaviour, in order to take appropriate action within the WTO,

(cid:129) the urgent appeal to the IMF and the World Bank to monitor compliance with the conditions under

which aid was given to the Republic of Korea following the economic crisis,

(cid:129) the request to the Commission and the Member States to make renewed efforts in the appropriate
in order to ensure the application forthwith of rules

including the OECD,

international
guaranteeing fair competition.

fora,

Finally, at the close of those conclusions, the Council welcomed the determination of the Commission to
fulfil its obligations under Article 12 of the abovementioned Regulation No 1540/98 (3) and to report on
developments as soon as necessary.

The Council intends to include the item on the agenda for its (cid:145)Industry(cid:146) meeting on 18 May 2000.

(1) OJ L 202, 18.7.1998, pp. 1 to 10.
(2) OJ L 148, 6.6.1997, pp. 1 to 3.
(3)

(cid:145)Article 12: The Commission shall present to the Council a regular report on the market situation and appraise
whether European yards are affected by anti-competitive practices. If it is established that industry is being caused
injury by anti-competitive practices of any kind, the Commission shall, where appropriate, propose to the Council
measures to address the problem.The first report shall be presented to the Council no later than 31 December 1999(cid:146).

(2000/C 280 E/024)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2296/99

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(30 November 1999)

Subject: Humanitarian aid for Iraq

According to the Financial Times, the USA and the United Kingdom are applying pressure on the
UN Secretary-General to replace the present humanitarian aid coordinator, Mr von Sponeck, because he
dared publicise the devastating results of the sanctions which have been applied against the population of
Iraq for the last nine years.

Given that the previous UN envoy to Baghdad was removed for exactly the same reasons and that
according to current estimates 5 000 children are dying every day due to a shortage of basic medicines,
will the Council say whether it intends to take initiatives with a view to ensuring that the provision of
humanitarian aid to Iraq is no longer conditional upon its meeting the demand for complete disarmament?
Does it agree that the position taken by the United States and the United Kingdom vis-(cid:224)-vis Iraq shows the
contempt with which the governments of these countries view the UN, which has become an organisation
without substance which is unable to get its instructions obeyed?

Reply

(13 March 2000)

The Council notes that the UN Secretary-General recently extended for another six months the mandate of
the UN humanitarian aid coordinator.

C 280 E/26

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

3.10.2000

The EU fully implements all existing UN Security Council resolutions pertaining to Iraq, including those
relating to the oil-for-food programme. It has urged Iraq to co-operate fully with the UN. The Council
notes that Security Council Resolution 1284, adopted on 17 December 1999, aims to expand and improve
the oil-for-food programme.

The Council does not share the views expressed in the last sentence of the Honourable Member(cid:146)s question.

(2000/C 280 E/025)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2307/99

by Lone Dybkj(cid:230)r (ELDR) to the Commission

(13 December 1999)

Subject: UN Convention to Combat Desertification

The following questions are tabled with a view to securing clarification of the positions taken by the
Commission in implementing the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD).

In which developing countries does the European Union take part in funding the implementation of
1.
national action plans to combat desertification? How much money is spent, what is the money used for,
and who is the recipient? How does the established financial cooperation ensure the continuity of action
programmes and allow for necessary long-term planning?

2. What has the European Union done to encourage the mobilisation of funding from the private sector
and other non-governmental sources and to promote and facilitate access by the developing countries
affected to appropriate technology, knowledge and know-how, pursuant to Article 6 of the CCD?

3. What has the European Union done to ensure that its trade policy and tariff structures do not lead to
desertification, e.g. by promoting monocultures?

4. What has the European Union done to ensure that
desertification, e.g. through export subsidies that make traditional agriculture in arid areas unprofitable?

its agriculture policy does not

lead to

5. What does the European Commission Union done to ensure the speedy and comprehensive
implementation of the CCD in the next few years?

6. What has the European Union done to ensure appropriate involvement of European stakeholders in
the implementation of CCD?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(27 January 2000)

1.
The Community is at the moment not funding the implementation of national action plans to
combat desertification in any country since only a few countries have actually drawn up a plan. However,
it has funded and has continued to fund a variety of programmes and projects against drought and land
degradation in the developing countries, in particular in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states. It
is not possible to quantify the amount being spent, because of the cross-cutting nature of the subject.
However, a report (1), which is currently being revised, provides details of the anti-desertification measures
funded by the Community in the developing countries and in the Community over the period 1990-1995.
By providing a financial envelope to each ACP state for the funding of its national indicative programme
over a five year period under the LomØ Convention, the Community provides predictability for action
programmes, allowing for long-term planning for ACP countries.

2.
The Community has a general policy of promoting the private sector in the developing countries and
facilitating the access of these countries to appropriate technology, knowledge and know-how. Indeed, it