WRITTEN QUESTION E-0105/00 by Gerardo Galeote Quecedo (PPE-DE) and José Salafranca Sánchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Middle East peace process and negotiations between Syria and Israel.
Date: 2000-01-26
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Middle East, common foreign and security policy

24.10.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 303 E/141

(2000/C 303 E/152)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0089/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(26 January 2000)

Subject: Negotiation of the new fisheries agreement between the European Union and Morocco

The initial public reports concerning the first interview, on 20 December 1999, between Mr Franz Fischler,
Commissioner, and the Moroccan authorities with regard to the negotiation of the new fisheries agreement
between the EU and Morocco are highly unfavourable. It proved impossible for the negotiations to be
launched and the public statements made by members of the Moroccan Government appear to allow no
possibility of establishing new agreements which do not involve the setting up of joint ventures. If these
implications thereof would be that Spanish (cid:129) and
reports are accurate (and if they are, the practical
therefore Galician (cid:129) vessels would no longer be able to fish in Moroccan waters), what negotiating
positions and instruments does the Commission intend to adopt and use?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2000)

The Commission can confirm that the position set out by the Commissioner for agriculture and fisheries
to the Moroccan authorities during his visit to Rabat on 20 December 1999 is based on the need to
establish a new framework for relations in the fisheries sector between the Community and Morocco
which will be mutually beneficial and take account of the needs of the industry on both sides.

The Commission reaffirms the negotiating position expressed over recent months, in particular in the
negotiating instructions approved by the Council in October 1999.

The Commission will make use of all the negotiating instruments available to it to establish a new
framework for partnership between the Community and Morocco.

(2000/C 303 E/153)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0105/00

by Gerardo Galeote Quecedo (PPE-DE) and
JosØ Salafranca SÆnchez-Neyra (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(26 January 2000)

Subject: Middle East peace process and negotiations between Syria and Israel

Syria and Israel have now opened peace negotiations in Shepherdstown with the United States acting as
mediator, and have begun to address issues linked to security and the normalisation of relations.

Given the importance which the European Union attaches to the Middle East peace process, in which
relations between Syria and Israel play a crucial part, and bearing in mind that, up till now, the European
public has not seen many signs of European Union influence in that process,

can the Commission answer the following:

(cid:129) what plans has the Commission drawn up to ensure European Union participation in the negotiations
between Syrians and Israelis and in other negotiations linked to the Middle East peace process?

(cid:129) what is the Commission(cid:146)s estimate of the costs of European Union participation in security and peace-

keeping systems on the border between Israel and Syria?

C 303 E/142

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

24.10.2000

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(22 February 2000)

The Commission welcomes the resumption of direct talks between Israel and Syria and hopes that further
rounds of talks will soon be possible.

The Commission shares the view that the Community must actively contribute to the peace process to
help consolidate the progress made and thus help pave the way to a permanent settlement. It will seek to
make an active contribution at the current crucial stage, not least in view of the implications that the new
phase might have on the Community.

On 24 January 2000, the General Affairs Council invited the Presidency, Special Envoy and Commission to
pursue contacts with the parties to the peace process, as well as with the United States, with a view to
maximising Community constructive input to all tracks of the peace process.

In addition, the High Representative, Special Envoy and Commission were invited to examine in detail a
number of issues on which the Community would be better placed to make a significant contribution,
including security, water and refugees. The Commission will actively participate in such assessment with a
view to further consideration by the Council in due course.

(2000/C 303 E/154)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0108/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

(26 January 2000)

Subject: Crisis in the financial system and the (cid:145)Euro-Asian Development Bridge(cid:146)

It is no secret that the entire international financial system is in a state of crisis, since the (cid:145)financial bubble(cid:146)
has expanded to more than US$ 160 thousand billion and is probably about to burst. In the countries
affected by speculation the adverse effects are obvious: a fall in production and the suspension of any
innovative investment have brought about a rise in unemployment and the spread of poverty, with highly
volatile social consequences. Furthermore, the Commission doubtless knows about the project called the
large-scale infrastructure, which is
(cid:145)Euro-Asian Development bridge(cid:146), consisting of
apparently being discussed by China, Russia, India, Iraq, Turkey and most other Asian countries, joined
recently by Japan, who are drawing up measures for taking part in the project(cid:146)s implementation. Since the
project(cid:146)s success depends on the use of advanced technologies and American and European machine tools,
it seems obvious that the project cannot be executed without the active participation of Europe.

the creation of

Can the Commission say:

1. whether it has had the opportunity to assess the project;

2.

if so, whether it does not consider that Europe(cid:146)s participation would have a stabilising effect on the
real economy and employment in the Union countries;

3. whether it does not also consider that a project of this kind would help to reverse the current
tendency to focus exclusively on the financial aspects of the economy, with all the attendant risks, the
symptoms of which have been apparent in the last two years, and to promote a return to the real
economy;

4. what might be the reasons militating against Europe(cid:146)s participation in the execution of the project;

5. what steps it intends to take to involve Europe in this major international debate?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(25 February 2000)

Current opinion on the financial crisis in Asia and its impact on the real economy and the societies of the
countries concerned is that the worst is over and that growth has recommenced in some of the countries