WRITTEN QUESTION P-2694/99 by Jas Gawronski (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Measures to resolve the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Date: 2000-01-11
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU Member State, United Kingdom, common commercial policy, exclusive distribution agreement, motor car, price disparity

3.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 280 E/107

(2000/C 280 E/110)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2694/99

by Jas Gawronski (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(11 January 2000)

Subject: Measures to resolve the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea

Can the Commission indicate what measures it intends to take with regard to the conflict between Eritrea
and Ethiopia?

At the Joint Assembly with representatives of the ACP countries last October in Nassau the Members of
the European Parliament requested the Council to take all the necessary measures to ensure that Ethiopia
accepts and implements the peace plan proposed by the OAU. Up to now, Ethiopia has still not
committed itself to the agreement and is still violating the fundamental rights of the Eritrean citizens
resident on its territory.

Article 5 of the LomØ Convention provides for the suspension of cooperation between the European
Union and the ACP States in cases of violation of human rights. Can the Commission indicate the reasons
why it continues to cooperate with Ethiopia?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2000)

The Commission has expressed to both governments and on various occasions its grave concern about the
conflict. It has called on both sides to cease all hostilities and stop the fighting. The Commission has used
all diplomatic means at its disposal to underline to both governments the need to resolve and settle the
conflict by peaceful means only. Moreover, the Union Presidency has addressed various letters to both
governments while a number of Union declarations have been issued on this matter. Regular contacts have
been established between the Commission delegations and the respective governments and between the
Commission and the respective embassies in Brussels. Furthermore, the Commissioner responsible for
development has held meetings with both parties where he underlined the position of the Commission.

The Commission has expressed its unequivocal support to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) efforts
aiming at a peaceful resolution of the conflict. It has strongly supported the OAU framework agreement as
the only basis for a peaceful solution. In this respect, the Commission fully supports the nomination of the
Italian deputy Minister of foreign affairs, Senator Serri, as the Union Presidency(cid:146)s special representative to
assist the OAU in its mediating efforts. The Commission is examining ways, together with the OAU
Secretariat, in which the Commission could assist the OAU, in particular in relation to the implementation
of the framework agreement.

The Commission has presented a communication to the Council on co-operation with African, Caribbean
and Pacific (ACP) countries involved in armed conflicts. The Presidency is presently preparing draft Council
conclusions on the basis of this Commission document. In the meantime and in the absence of a Union
position on the matter, the Commission does not consider appropriate to take unilateral and isolated
measures in the case of the Ethiopia (cid:129) Eritrea conflict. However, the Commission has already decided for
structural adjustment programmes to allocate funds in smaller (cid:145)tranches(cid:146) and link further disbursements to
a periodic review of the conflict and its possible impact on the public spending, particularly in the social
sectors. As a consequence disbursement of structural adjustment funds to Ethiopia has been halted
since January 1999.

(2000/C 280 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2696/99

by Neil MacCormick (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

Subject: Internal market: Restrictive practices in car sales

(11 January 2000)

Given that vehicles from Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland can be sold in the UK at prices well below
the manufacturers(cid:146) UK list prices and that various other countries also provide substantial savings