WRITTEN QUESTION E-1045/00 by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Construction of a metro system in the metropolitan area of Oporto.
Date: 2000-04-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Regional Development Fund, Northern Portugal, underground railway, urbanisation

C 53 E/62

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

20.2.2001

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2000)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Questions E-0784/00 and
E-0818/00 by Mrs MiguØlez Ramos (1).

(1) OJ C 46 E, 13.2.2001, p. 42.

(2001/C 53 E/072)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1044/00

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

(4 April 2000)

Subject: Chechen refugees

Recent press reports have highlighted the existence of 277 100 Chechen refugees, chiefly in Ingushetiya
but also in other neighbouring republics such as North Osetiya and Dagestan, in addition to the 42 000
people housed in provisional camps in Chechnya itself, at Asinovskaia and Sernovodsk west of Grozny.
What practical economic and political measures is the European Union taking as part of urgent and
effective action to remedy this tragic situation?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(12 May 2000)

Since the early stages of the present crisis, the Commission, through its Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO),
has been providing emergency assistance to the civilians displaced by the hostilities. While implementing
the programme in co-operation with the United Nations high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
the Commission faced considerable operational constraints (important security problems for aid workers,
etc.). Nevertheless, the Commission managed to provide aid in a broad range of humanitarian fields (such
as food, shelter, public health, water and sanitation, essential relief items).

Currently the total financial allocation stands at € 7,4 million. So far, the programme has mainly focused
on Ingushetia, but it has also covered Daguestan and Georgia. At present, the main operational priority is
the resumption of operations in Chechnya itself, where activities had to be suspended in November 1999
due to security constraints. The Commission, in close co-ordination with other members of the interna-
tional community, continues to advocate the role of humanitarian actors in this emergency in its
negotiations with the Russian authorities.

(2001/C 53 E/073)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1045/00

by Ilda Figueiredo (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(4 April 2000)

Subject: Construction of a metro system in the metropolitan area of Oporto

Work is about to start on the construction of a metro system in the metropolitan area of Oporto in line
with a project agreed with the Commission.

Proposals have since been made for the addition of new stretches of track and changes to those originally
planned in response to transport problems in and around the city.

20.2.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 53 E/63

The Commission:

1. Can it say how much Community funding has been earmarked for the current project to construct a

metro system in the metropolitan area of Oporto?

2. Have additions and/or changes to the current project already been received? If so, which?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(25 May 2000)

In 1994 an indicative amount of € 60 to 70 million was allotted to part-financing of the Oporto light
metro system under the development support infrastructure programme of Portugal(cid:146)s Community support
framework (Transport subprogramme measure 4: Congestion relief in the Lisbon and Oporto urban areas).

The Commission approved the first phase of the project on 11 December 1998 and the European
Regional Development Fund assistance is € 71 770 000. It has so far received no request for modification
of the project.

(2001/C 53 E/074)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1048/00

by Hubert Pirker (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(29 March 2000)

Subject: Unresolved issues of ownership

It is a well-known fact that the confiscation of property without compensation is always a violation of
international law. The political significance of these unresolved property ownership questions cannot be
resolved by a reference to Article 295 of the EC Treaty.

In the context of the accession negotiations with the Republic of Slovenia, what is the Commission(cid:146)s view
of these hitherto unresolved issues, and is it prepared to contribute towards righting this wrong?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(2 May 2000)

As indicated to the Honourable Member in reply to his Written Questions E-0697/00 and E-0698/00 (1),
the process of property restitution in Slovenia was assessed in the light of the Copenhagen political
criteria, in the opinion of the Commission on Slovenia(cid:146)s application to the Union and in the subsequent
yearly regular reports.

The Commission follows the overall development of this ongoing process in the context of bilateral
relations with Slovenia. Sources indicate that of the overall value of claims, 52 % of the total have been
restituted.

The accession negotiations embrace all areas of Community legislation and policy, the (cid:145)acquis(cid:146), which each
applicant country will have to adopt and implement fully by the time of accession to the Union. In this
respect the Commission underlines that it has no legal competence to intervene directly in the process of
restitution of property. This process does not fall under the (cid:145)acquis(cid:146), since Article 295 (ex Article 222) of
the EC Treaty states explicitly that it shall in no way prejudice the rules in the Member States governing
the system of property ownership.

As indicated in the answer to the Honourable Member(cid:146)s Written Question P-0664/00 (2), the implementa-
tion of international instruments on human rights, such as the European Convention on Human Rights, is
primarily the responsibility of the relevant international organisations.

(1) See page 18.
(2) OJ C 26 E, 26.1.2001, p. 85.