WRITTEN QUESTION E-0853/00 by Maria Carrilho (PSE) to the Council. Mozambique.
Date: 2000-03-20
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Mozambique, economic reconstruction, flood

26.1.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 26 E/119

In the Council Enfopol documents are preparatory documents concerning police cooperation.
3.
In 1999 the Council examined a draft for a Resolution on the lawful interception of telecommunications
in relation to new technologies. This draft text was not adopted by the Council.

(1) OJ L 24 of 30.1.1998, page 1.

(2001/C 26 E/147)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0851/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(21 March 2000)

Subject: Outlying regions

Pursuant to Article 299 of the EC Treaty the Commission undertook to submit, by the end of 1999, a draft
regulation on the specific measures to be applied to the outlying regions. It is now the beginning of March
2000 and there is as yet no sign of that draft.

1. What are the reasons for the delay in adopting the draft regulation on the specific measures to be
applied to outlying regions?

On what date is the draft regulation due to be adopted and then submitted to the European

2.
Parliament?

Answer given by Mr Prodi on behalf of the Commission

(28 April 2000)

On 14 March 2000 the Commission adopted the report requested by the Cologne European Council on
the measures to implement Article 299(2) of the Treaty (cid:129) the outermost regions of the European
Union (1). It transmitted the report to Parliament on 15 March 2000.

The Commission preferred to delay the adoption of this report, initially planned for December 1999,
in order to make a more detailed study of the memoranda presented by the three Member States in
question in November/December 1999, and the positions presented at
the partnership meeting of
23 November 1999.

(1) COM(2000) 147 final.

(2001/C 26 E/148)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0853/00

by Maria Carrilho (PSE) to the Council

(20 March 2000)

Subject: Mozambique

It is currently impossible to assess the scale of the disaster which has struck Mozambique, its land and its
people, either at present (cid:129) a period during which survival is the absolute priority (cid:129) or in the medium
term, a time of reconstruction in which restoring hope and providing resources will be essential if the
people of Mozambique are to rediscover within themselves the enthusiastic commitment which had been
contributing so much to the development of the country.

How is the Council intending to ensure (as far as it can) that the transition from the current stage to the
reconstruction stage proceeds smoothly?

What material and organisational resources is the Council
reconstruction stage, and over what timescale (if known)?

intending to make available during the

C 26 E/120

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

26.1.2001

Reply

(8 June 2000)

The Council discussed the situation in Mozambique on 20 March. It had followed closely and with great
concern the situation in Mozambique (and other parts of the region) where the flooding had been one of
the most serious catastrophes to have occurred in recent years. It expressed its solidarity with the people
and government of Mozambique and the other countries of the region as they grappled with the
devastating consequences of the flooding and its sympathy with them as they set about rebuilding their
shattered lives.

It took note of the conclusions of the mission to Mozambique from 2 to 4 March, shortly after the
Mozambique government asked for help, by the President of the Development Council, the Portuguese
Secretary of State for Development Cooperation, Mr Amado, and the Commissioner for Development and
Humanitarian aid, Mr Nielson, to assess the scale of the damage and identify priority needs.

The Council also recognised the broader impact this catastrophe was likely to have on Mozambique(cid:146)s
economy and development. It has endorsed the Mozambique government(cid:146)s twin-track approach aiming at
meeting the immediate needs for relief while working to rehabilitate affected areas and to ensure both
macro-economic stability and the maintenance of on-going programmes of development assistance.

On the former, the Council noted that the Member States and the Community have to date pledged over
€ 85 million in emergency humanitarian aid as well as further aid in kind. The Council underlined that
this represented the major share of
international contributions reported by the UN (OCHA) which
amounted to over € 120 million. In addition, the Council noted with satisfaction the solidarity shown by
the EU(cid:146)s citizens in their generous response to the appeals for assistance.

On the latter, several Member States and the Community have already announced a total of € 66,5 million
in aid for rehabilitation and budgetary support and a further € 156 million in debt relief. The Council
noted that in addition to this support, € 100 million were disbursed in 1999 in Mozambique under the
Community(cid:146)s co-operation programme and up to € 150 million are expected to be disbursed in 2000.

The Member States and the Community will continue to participate actively in Maputo in the co-
ordination of rehabilitation being led by the Mozambique government and look forward to making a
positive contribution to the donor conference to be held in Rome at the end of April/beginning of May. It
is only at this time that the needs will have been assessed properly and therefore that the full picture of the
resources that the Member States and the Community will make available during the reconstruction period
will become clear.

The Council will continue to follow the situation in Mozambique closely.

(2001/C 26 E/149)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0854/00

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(21 March 2000)

Subject: Discrimination against EU citizens in Italian banks

Is the Commission aware that Italian banks charge a commission for money transferred into an Italian
account from elsewhere within the Euro zone or for paying in when the transfer or payment is made by
an EU citizen who is not resident in Italy? This commission is not charged for EU citizens who are resident
in Italy. Does the Commission not feel this is a breach of Community law guaranteeing equality of
treatment for EU citizens?