WRITTEN QUESTION E-1367/00 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission. CAM-Albania report on humanitarian aid to Kosovo.
Date: 2000-05-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, Kosovo, customs cooperation, customs formalities, customs inspection, fraud, humanitarian aid, report

C 81 E/32

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

13.3.2001

There is apparently a contradiction between the statements made to the press by representatives of the
Galician Government and the information given by the Commission to the European Parliament. The
Galician minister for public works has stated that (cid:145)the regional government has received financial support
from the EU and a commitment from the Spanish Government to the effect that, in 2007, the cities of
La Coruna and Vigo will be linked with Madrid via Valladolid by means of a high-speed train(cid:146). In other
statements, representatives of the Galician regional government have promised that, by 2007, the journey
will take only four and half hours, thanks to EU investment.

The rail link between Galicia and Central Spain is so dated that, these days, trains take between 8 and
12 hours to cover the distance between Galicia and Madrid (at least 8,05 hours from Vigo, 8,35 hours
from La Coruna, 9,40 hours from Lugo and 12 hours from Ferrol) which works out at an average speed
of 70 km per hour. In the words of the Commissioner responsible for transport (cid:145)the decision to construct
a high-speed rail link between Galicia and Madrid via Valladolid and the related planning are essentially the
responsibility of the Spanish Government, in accordance with the subsidiarity principle(cid:146). In the last quarter
of 1999 the Spanish Government submitted its proposal for a Community Support Framework to the
Commission.

Is the Commission able to confirm that,
in 2007, Galicia will be linked to the major European
infrastructure networks? Has the Spanish Government now made up for its delay in submitting an
operational programme containing greater details regarding its proposals for the next seven years? If so,
can the Commission confirm that, in 2007, a high-speed rail link, similar to the AEV which links Madrid
with Seville or to the one which is being built between Madrid and Barcelona, will reach as far as Galicia?

(1) European Parliament debates (September 1999).
(2) OJ C 170 E, 20.6.2000, p. 15.

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(15 June 2000)

On 29 October 1999 the Spanish Government submitted its regional development plan for the Spanish
regions eligible under Objective 1 during the 2000-2006 programming period to the Commission. This
plan mentions the poor rail links between Galicia and the centre of the Iberian Peninsula and proposes
improving the rail network and train services between Galicia and Madrid, but without giving any details
of the actual measures involved.

Although the Commission considers that measures to solve this problem could be included in the 2000-
2006 Community support framework (CSF) for the Spanish Objective 1 regions, it cannot commit itself at
this stage since negotiations with the Spanish authorities started on 4 May 2000 and are still continuing.

On 28 April 2000 the Commission also received the operational programme for Galicia for the 2000-
2006 programming period from the Spanish authorities and is currently deciding whether to accept it.

(2001/C 81 E/038)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1367/00

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN) to the Commission

Subject: CAM-Albania report on humanitarian aid to Kosovo

(4 May 2000)

On 1 March 2000 the CAM-Albania (Customs Assistance Mission) forwarded to the Commission(cid:146)s DG XXI
(Customs and Excise Service) a detailed report on humanitarian aid shipped via Albania to Kosovo during
last year(cid:146)s war. The report draws attention to two types of fraud. In the first instance, goods were passed
off as humanitarian aid when they were not and in the second genuine humanitarian aid was not used for
its intended purpose once it had passed through customs but was distributed and sold on the black
market. In both cases smuggling offences were committed.

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/33

According to reports in the Italian weekly (cid:145)Panorama(cid:146), at least 40 % of the humanitarian NGOs listed in the
report and which were operating in Albania between March and summer 1999 were guilty of serious
irregularities, including the setting up of bogus organisations by organised criminal networks in order to
sell goods intended for aid on the black market.

1.

Is the Commission aware of this report?

2. What are its views on the matter?

3.

Has it taken any steps to identify those responsible?

4. What will it do to prevent similar frauds occurring in connection with aid sent to Kosovo or other
crisis areas?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(6 July 2000)

1.
The Commission is aware of the report established by a joint working group of Albanian customs
officials assisted by an expert of the customs assistance mission in Albania (CAM-A). The joint working
group was formed at the request of the Albanian Minister of Finance with the purpose of carrying out the
reported study. The report was delivered to Mr Ago, the Albanian General director of Customs, on
29 February 2000. The Commission has received a copy of the report for information. The European Anti-
Fraud Office (OLAF) is also aware of the report.

2.
The report reveals the difficulties encountered by the Albanian authorities in their efforts to control
the movement of consignments of humanitarian aid during the Kosovo crisis in 1999. The crisis led to a
dramatic increase of consignments of aid and of people entering Albania. Some of the aid had a final
destination in Kosovo. The report reveals that 29 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) had not
complied fully with the procedures for the delivery of the consignments of goods free of duty as
humanitarian aid.

3.
It is the responsibility of the Albanian authorities to undertake all the necessary measures to fight
such failures to comply, some of which were apparently fraudulent and require investigation. However the
Commission, realising the difficulties of the task facing the Albanians, who themselves were not without
their own difficulties, agreed to assist the Albanian customs service through the CAM-A programme,
which is financed by the Community. The overall aim of the programme is to assist the Albanian
authorities to develop a modern and effective customs service. The aim of the report was to make the
Albanian authorities aware of what had taken place during the period when aid was being delivered and to
recommend corrective measures that should be taken in the future to overcome shortcomings in their
procedures. In May 2000, CAM-A experts informed the Commission that the Albanian authorities were in
the process of implementing the recommended changes. The Commission will examine in the light of the
outcome of ongoing investigations, if conclusions have to be drawn.

4.
One of the objectives of the technical assistance delivered by the Commission in the crisis areas is in
fact to develop and propose procedures to local administrations in order that they can prevent the
fraudulent use of both humanitarian aid shipments and humanitarian aid status.

In Kosovo, the customs assistance mission in Kosovo (CAM-K) is assisting the customs service of the
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo to develop administrative and control proce-
dures (notably specific forms)
for dealing with aid arriving across their international borders and
administrative boundary line.

As regards Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Customs and fiscal assistance office (CAFAO) has given advice to
the Stabilisation force (SFOR) in order to revise the existing procedures for controlling the consignments
destined to them.